CfI: Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT): Call 1 - £15M Funding

UKRI Funding Opportunities (All Councils)

Published April 7th, 2026

Detected April 8th, 2026

Summary

UKRI and Innovate UK have opened a £15 million funding opportunity for UK registered organisations to develop near-term, testable connectivity solutions advancing the UK's Secure and Resilient and Sustainable Network Grand Challenges. This is the first call under the CfI: Advanced Connectivity Technologies programme. Individual awards can reach up to £2 million, with a closing date of 3 June 2026.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

Innovate UK is offering up to £15 million in grant funding to UK registered organisations to develop deployable prototypes on UK testbeds for advanced connectivity technologies. The programme focuses on solutions addressing the UK's Secure and Resilient and Sustainable Network Grand Challenges, with maximum awards of £2 million per project. Contracts will be awarded to single legal entities only, though subcontractors may be based overseas if their contribution is necessary and meets procurement and security requirements.

UK-registered organisations with connectivity technology solutions should evaluate eligibility and consider applying through the Innovation Funding Service before the 3 June 2026 deadline. Potential applicants should carefully review the full opportunity details to determine whether their proposed solutions align with the programme's Grand Challenges and testable prototype requirements.

What to do next

Assess organisational eligibility for Innovate UK funding
Review full opportunity details on the Innovation Funding Service portal
Prepare and submit proposal before 3 June 2026 11:00am UK time deadline

Source document (simplified)

Funding opportunity

Funding opportunity: CfI: Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT): Call 1

Opportunity status: Open Funders: Innovate UK Funding type: Other Total fund: £15,000,000 Maximum award: £2,000,000 Publication date: 7 April 2026 Opening date:

1 April 2026 9:30am UK time

Closing date:

3 June 2026 11:00am UK time

See the full opportunity details on the Innovation Funding Service.

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of £15 million, including VAT, to develop near term, testable solutions that advance the UK’s Secure and Resilient, and Sustainable Network Grand Challenges through deployable prototypes on UK testbeds.

Eligibility summary

To lead a project, you can:

be UK registered organisation
work alone or with other organisations as subcontractors Subcontractors can be based in the UK or overseas, but their contribution must be necessary, justified, and meet procurement and security requirements.

Contracts will be awarded to a single legal entity only.