UK Defence Innovation (UKDI): guidance for prospective applicants

This guidance is non-specific. Always check the specific requirements of the service you are applying for, as they take precedence over this advice. 

About
UKDI
We are UK Defence Innovation (
UKDI
). Our aim is to ensure that the United Kingdom is both secure at home and strong abroad. We work towards this by inviting submissions of cutting-edge innovations to solve complex defence and security challenges.
What we do
What we don’t do
We offer support and advice to UK businesses via our Regional Engagement Team, more information can be found on our
how to work with
UKDI
page.
We currently don’t offer advice to international applicants. Learn more below in the
guidance for international innovators section
We provide funding to nurture innovations from idea to commercialisation. Check out our current
live funding opportunities.
We don’t buy mature products or services that suppliers want to sell to defence/security. If this is something you are interested in
head here.
We are interested in ideas from anyone that can meet a defence and security need.
We can’t work with organisations that aren’t registered on Companies House.
A
UKDI
Account
The only way to communicate with
UKDI
is through our
‘submission service’
. If you would like to work with
UKDI
it is imperative that you register for an account if you do not already have one.
Guidance for international innovators
From 17 July 2026
UKDI
will cease provision of Innovation Partner (
IP
) support to innovators based outside of the UK. This change reflects
UKDI
’s focus on supporting UK innovation to strengthen the domestic defence and security industrial base.
Overseas innovators may still be eligible to apply for selected calls and competitions. Eligibility criteria and application details will be clearly outlined within the guidance for each individual opportunity. All relevant information for overseas applicants will be made available on our
UKDI
website.
Innovation Outlines
If you are unsure whether your innovation is in scope for one of our funding services, you may be able to submit an Innovation Outline (
IO
). The Open Call accepts these, as do some Themed Competitions. An
IO
is a summary of your intended submission, and you should receive a simple “yes/no” response.  If you get a positive response, it may trigger a conversation with a member of our Regional Engagement Team.
For Open Calls, identifying potential users to offer a view on an
IO
can take time. For Themed Competitions, turnaround is usually quicker as they have a defined sponsor. IOs must be submitted via the
submission service
, not directly to your Innovation Partner.
Full Proposals
Below is a list of considerations for innovators to support the formation of a strong proposal. It is designed to supplement any advice offered by members of the Regional Engagement Team. These are general advice points and the specific requirement of the competition that you are submitting to should take priority.
Competition Requirements & Eligibility
Submission deadline: All submissions close at 12:00 midday GMT/BST on the stated deadline of the specific competition. Please submit your proposal in plenty of time (preferably before the last day at latest). Late submissions cannot be accepted.
Read the competition document carefully. Highlight all mandatory requirements and create a checklist before submitting.
Pay close attention to required start/end technology readiness levels (TRLs), project duration, funding limits, and mandated activities (e.g. demonstrations or meetings). Almost all competitions require a demonstration and a final report.
Read the competition document, application guidance, and any frequently asked questions (FAQs). These define scope and sponsor intent.
Ensure you accept the terms and conditions for the competition.
Identify start and end TRLs. For the Open Call, delivery at
TRL
6/7 is mandated; higher TRLs will fail pre-sift. Themed competitions vary.
Common Reasons for Rejection
Common reasons for rejection (where the project is otherwise desirable) include:
Insufficient technical detail or background
Weak articulation of Defence/Security benefit
Poor justification of requested resources, especially overheads
Completing the Application Form
Complete the form using the provided text boxes only - do not use attachments for written answers. Provide sufficient detail; do not underuse available word limits.
Word limits typically apply (usually 3000 words each for desirability, feasibility and viability; 1000 words for additional information). The additional section may not be read. Assessors only have 90 minutes in total to review each proposal, so the word limit is a cap, not a target. When pasting text from applications such as MS Word, avoid nonprinting characters - use plain text where possible.
Formatting issues in downloaded PDFs are acceptable. There are no font or spacing rules. Use headings to improve readability.
Keep your Title, Abstract and Proposition Value Statement clear and descriptive. Avoid acronyms where possible, where used explain them in full in the first instance.
Select areas of specialism carefully to help assign appropriate Assessors.
Address all assessment criteria (desirable, feasible, viable) clearly, ideally using subheadings aligned to the guidance.
Briefly describe any engagement with your Innovation Partner, for example:
Discussed idea with Innovation Partner (name)
Innovation Outline response indicated interest in a full proposal
Scope, Benefit & Project Context
Consider relevant legislation, for example human trials require MODREC approval, personal data gathering may fall under RIPA 2016.
State where the majority of work will be carried out, including postcode if applicable.
Many applicants find the desirability section hardest. Review public
UKDI
competition documents and past competitions for context.
Letters of support are not required, but they may aid your proposal for an Open Call.
Provide evidence of work completed to date a