UK Defence and Security Funding for Innovators

UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) is part of the Ministry of Defence, and since February 2026 it includes the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), which gov.uk states became part of UKDI. UKDI funds suppliers through an Open Call for Innovation, themed competitions and Defence Innovation Loans, with proposals submitted through its online submission service and assessed by Ministry of Defence experts. I write the proposals.

Who this fits and who it does not

Eligibility is set competition by competition, and UKDI's guidance says most competitions require funded project activity to take place in the UK. The competition documents state the rule: the Security Open Call states that the applicant must be a UK organization registered with Companies House, a sole trader or a UK based academic institution that intends to undertake the project work in the UK, and that the organization does not need to be UK owned; the Tactical Power Challenge states that the applicant must be a UK registered business listed at Companies House, based in the UK and carrying out the project development in the UK, with no requirement to be UK owned.

• It fits a UK registered company, or the UK registered entity of an international company, with a technology at the readiness level the competition asks for and the intent to do the work in the UK.

• UKDI's guidance says most competitions require funded project activity to take place in the UK; a UK subsidiary of an international organization that will carry out the funded project in the UK is eligible, and an international organization is eligible only where the competition explicitly permits it. Overseas organizations may take part as subcontractors, consortium members or technology partners provided the project activity takes place in the UK.

• It does not fit an organization with no current UK operational activity and no intention to undertake project work in the UK, which UKDI says is unlikely to be eligible, nor an organization not registered on Companies House.

• UKDI does not fund work already funded elsewhere in government, solutions at technology readiness level 9, consultancy or the commercialization of ideas.

The Open Call and the themed competitions

UKDI describes three routes: the Open Call for Innovation for disruptive ideas at any stage, even if no specific requirement has been set; themed competitions focused on a defined challenge or area of interest to government; and Defence Innovation Loans for later stage R&D and commercialization. The Security Open Call runs in cycles for the Home Office, the National Protective Security Authority and the Department for Transport.

The Security Open Call runs a two stage process within each cycle. Stage 1 is an idea overview of up to 900 words covering strategic fit, compatibility, expected readiness level, exploitation potential, scope and timeline. Stage 2, by invitation only, is a detailed proposal of about 9,000 words with the technical description, project plan and finance breakdown. A supplier may submit at most three Stage 1 entries per cycle, and a project may not exceed £350,000, or £150,000 for testing and trialling only. Themed competitions follow the same two stage pattern with their own funding limits and readiness level range.

How the process works

The only way to submit is the UKDI online submission service, where the form runs through service, summary, innovation details, finance and delivery schedule, additional information (risk register, government furnished assets request and the key team) and review. An Innovation Partner will contact a registered supplier within 15 working days, and intellectual property is protected in those conversations. No deadline extensions are granted.

Assessment starts with a pre-sift: a proposal may be rejected if it does not demonstrate impact for defence or security, exceeds the funding limit or timescale, or is not at the correct technology readiness level. Proposals are then scored on whether they are desirable (strategic fit and end user pull), feasible (technical credibility, innovation, risk and team expertise) and viable (costs, value for money and delivery plan), by subject matter experts from the Ministry of Defence, including Dstl and front line commands where needed. A moderator compiles a fund or no fund recommendation, a decision conference makes the final decision, and innovators do not attend it. A fundable proposal that is not funded stays fundable for 12 months while UKDI seeks funding.

Successful suppliers contract on the Innovation Standard Contract, which UKDI requires to be accepted without qualification, and each funded project gets a project manager and a technical partner. Contracts can carry an option for a further testing and trialling phase that UKDI may or may not exercise, and suppliers and their subcontractors must prove cyber resilience through a supplier assurance questionnaire before award.

My read

• The pre-sift is where most proposals die: the wrong readiness level or a budget over the limit ends the application before anyone reads the idea.

• Desirability is about the end user. A proposal that names the operational problem and who owns it in defence or security scores better than one that describes a technology.

• Stage 1 is 900 words, so every sentence has to do a job; I treat it as a pitch to be invited, not as a shortened Stage 2.

• Cycles repeat. The Security Open Call publishes its next cycle dates in advance, and a proposal built for one cycle carries over to the next with little rework.

Competitions open now

Submission deadlines are at 12 noon UK time on the date shown.

Frequently asked questions

Is DASA still the name?

gov.uk states that the Defence and Security Accelerator became part of UK Defence Innovation in February 2026, and the live competitions are published under UKDI. The submission service and some guidance pages still carry the old name.

Can a US company apply?

Through a UK registered entity that will do the work in the UK, where the competition allows it. The Security Open Call and the Tactical Power Challenge both require a UK registered organization and work carried out in the UK, with no requirement to be UK owned.

How much does UKDI fund?

The limit is set per competition: the Security Open Call caps a project at £350,000, and themed competitions state their own total and per project limits. Prices must be supported by a full cost breakdown.

What does the consultant do on a UKDI proposal?

The Stage 1 idea overview, the Stage 2 technical description, project plan and finance breakdown, and the pre-sift check against the competition document before anything is submitted.