Funding call · UKDI · UK
UK Defence Innovation: Innovation Support to Operations (Cycle 8)
UK Defence Innovation (incl. former DASA) · published 05 Aug 2026 · · Source ↗
Deadline22 Sep 2026 36 days left
Budget / value€1.2m
Per-proposal cap £1,000,000 ex VAT (≈€1.17m at 1.17); expected proposal size ≤£350,000. Total programme budget not stated.
Statusopen
TRL?–6
Consortiumnot required
Why it matters
A recurring, fast-turnaround UK MOD innovation route with contracting immediately after assessment and possible follow-on procurement, aimed at production-ready rather than lab-stage tech. Relevant to scale-ups and SMEs with TRL 5-6 hardware or software that can be manufactured and fielded quickly for current operations.
Do this: Register on the UKDI Online Submission Service and submit a ≤£350k, four-month, TRL 6 proposal before midday 22 September 2026.
Route: grant application · For: BD / bid leads at defence-tech scale-upsEstablished SME suppliers & subsystem makersBid & funding consultancies
Summary
UK Defence Innovation (formerly DASA) has opened Cycle 8 of its rolling 'Innovation Support to Operations' themed competition, seeking cost-competitive, manufacturable innovations that can scale within roughly twelve months. Proposals are expected to cost no more than £350,000 and must not exceed £1,000,000 excluding VAT, must reach at least TRL 6 by project end, and run four months or less from an intended January 2027 start. Submissions close at midday on 22 September 2026 via the UKDI Online Submission Service, with feedback in mid-December 2026.
Eligibility
Open competition via UKDI Online Submission Service; registration required. No nationality restrictions stated.
Source text (raw, may be non-English)
This UKDI Themed Competition seeks innovative, cost competitive proposals that are designed for manufacture and scalable in twelve-months. Introduction This UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) themed competition is looking for innovative proposals that are cost competitive, designed for manufacture, and can be scaled in an approximate twelve-month timeframe. This is Cycle 8 of a multiple cycle competition. Proposals submitted will follow the UKDI “How your proposal will be assessed” process with contracting immediately afterwards for successful proposals. UKDI reserves the right to change or close the competition without launching further cycles. Outputs from funded projects may be considered for further development or procurement, subject to contract. In this circumstance the Authority (Secretary of State for Defence, acting on behalf of the Crown) will undertake appropriate procurement activity to ensure value for money and subject to any applicable regulations that may be applicable. Competition key information Key Information Competition Details Submission deadline Cycle 8: 12:00 Midday on 22 September 2026 (BST) Funding limits and expectations We are expecting proposals to cost no more than £350,000. A number of proposals may be funded. Your proposal must not exceed £1,000,000 (excluding VAT) Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Reach at least TRL 6 by the end of the project Contract start month Aim to start January 2027 Project duration Equal to or less than four months from the project start date Cyber Risk Assessment (CRA) number and risk level RAR-NAN6JZQ - Cyber Risk Profile Level 1 Feedback release date Mid December 2026 Pre-sift criteria See Section 14 Pre-sift Criteria Where do I submit my proposal? Via the UKDI Online Submission Service where you will need to register for an account. Only proposals submitted through the UKDI Online Submission Service will be accepted.
Related
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Context
UKDI
· UK
Process guidance rather than an opportunity, but it sets the mechanics every UKDI applicant must clear — notably that SAQ/cyber compliance gates contract award and that Desirable/Feasible/Viable answers submitted as attachments are sifted out. Relevant to bid managers and consultants preparing UK MOD innovation bids for the first time. Do: Register a UKDI online submission service account, obtain a D-U-N-S number and GOV.UK One Login, and pre-complete the Supplier Assurance Questionnaire before your next UKDI competition deadline.
Context
UKDI
· UK
Sets the baseline contracting and IP framework for every UKDI/DASA themed competition and the Open Call — useful reference for non-UK scale-ups since nationality restrictions apply only where a competition states them. Relevant to bid teams and consultancies preparing UK innovation submissions. Do: Read this alongside the Overarching Competition document before bidding into the UKDI Open Call, and register for the MOD commercial toolkit to review DEFCON 705 terms.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/competition-innovation-support-to-operations-cycle-8 — summarised by Rearm Radar; verify details at source before bidding. Enrichment: anthropic/claude-opus-5 (confidence 85%).