Solution Development for Advanced Connectivity Technologies

Who it is for

This competition is open to single applicants and collaborations.

To lead a collaborative project, your organisation must be one of the following UK-registered

• small, medium or large business
• research and technology organisation (RTO)
• academic institution
• charity
• not-for-profit
• public sector organisation

To work alone your organisation must be a UK-registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME).

To collaborate with the lead, your organisation must be one of the following UK-registered

• small, medium or large business
• academic institution
• charity
• not-for-profit
• public sector organisation

Your project must

• address one of three challenge areas
• have a grant funding request between £200,000 and £5 million
• last between three to 24 months
• start by 1 September 2026
• end by 31 August 2028

Support you can get

This competition is part of the Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT) R&D Programme. It aims to accelerate the development, demonstration and commercialisation of next‑generation communications technologies that strengthen the UK’s security, resilience, sustainability and long‑term competitiveness.

For industrial research, you can get funding for your eligible project costs of up to

• 70% if you are a micro or small organisation
• 60% if you are a medium-sized organisation
• 50% if you are a large organisation

For experimental development projects which are nearer to market, you can get funding for your eligible project costs of up to

• 45% if you are a micro or small organisation
• 35% if you are a medium-sized organisation
• 25% if you are a large organisation

Support organisers

• Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
• Innovate UK

Contact

Innovate UK

Email

support@iuk.ukri.org

Phone

0300 321 4357

Next Steps

on the Innovation Funding Service website

Published
01 April 2026

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