Funding call · UKDI · UK
UKDI Security Open Call 2026 — cycle 1: up to £350k per project, closes 27 Aug 2026
UK Defence Innovation (Home Office / NPSA priorities) ·
published 03 Aug 2026 ·
✓ analyst reviewed
· Source ↗
Deadline27 Aug 2026 10 days left
Budget / value€410kUp to £350k (≈€410k) per project; 12 months (18 with optional testing phase)
Statusopen
Funding rate100% funded contracts (innovation funding, not grants)
Consortiumnot required
Why it matters
The first UKDI-branded open call after the DASA transition — a live signal that the UK's £1.6bn innovation budget is now flowing, and a fast (~£350k) entry point for security-tech SMEs including EU firms with a UK entity.
Summary
UK Defence Innovation (the body that absorbed DASA in July 2025) relaunched the Security Open Call on 3 August 2026: disruptive technologies for public safety, national security, border security and protective security. Up to £350,000 per project, 12–18 months. Cycle 1 closes 27 August 2026; further cycles are planned through 2026 and 2027.
Eligibility
Innovators (UK-registered or able to contract in the UK) with technologies addressing Home Office and NPSA priorities: cyber resilience, border security, protective security, public safety. Deliver TRL 6–7 prototypes with operational impact within two years.
Related
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.
Award
· Poland
· €2.3m
CZCSZ is Poland's central buyer for military ICT and repeatedly procures routers and node equipment, here via Polish integrators/resellers rather than vendors directly. Relevant to tactical/industrial networking hardware makers and secure-comms integrators wanting a Polish channel partner. Do: Approach Axians IT Solutions Poland or EFAB as a channel/subsystem partner for ruggedised routers and monitor CZCSZ notices on the Polish e-Zamówienia portal for the next tranche.
Award
· Romania
· €31.8m
STS is Romania's state operator for secure/critical government and defence communications, and this framework locks in three domestic integrators as call-off channels for switch hardware through the framework period. Relevant to network equipment vendors and secure-networking SMEs without a Romanian entity, who will need to sell through these resellers. Do: Contact ARCTIC STREAM and DATANET SYSTEMS as the dominant framework holders to position your switching/secure-networking products for STS call-off contracts.
Context
CH federal
· Switzerland
The report names ISMS rollout, tool harmonisation, legacy-system replacement and supplier management as priorities, signalling future Swiss federal IT-security spend and stricter supply-chain security requirements. Relevant to cyber/GRC software vendors and IT security service SMEs with Swiss presence, and to any supplier bidding into federal ICT contracts. Do: Track FS BIS/SEPOS and DigiSec-related publications on simap.ch and align your ISO 27001/ISMS and supply-chain-security evidence for upcoming Swiss federal ICT tenders.
Context
CH federal
· Switzerland
· €25.20bn
This names the exact Swiss demand priorities for the next decade — C-UAS, counter-stand-off/air defence, cyber and critical-infrastructure protection — plus a second GBAD system alongside Patriot, which is a large future competition. Relevant to C-UAS, air-defence, cyber and infrastructure-protection suppliers able to deliver Swiss/European industrial content under the 60%-domestic policy. Do: Track armasuisse notices on simap.ch and pre-position with armasuisse/Gruppe Verteidigung on C-UAS, counter-stand-off and critical-infrastructure protection, and with Patriot/second-GBAD primes for offset subcontracting.
Tender
· Norway
· deadline 11 Sep 2026 (25d)
The Contracting Authority shall enter into this agreement on behalf of The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (FMA). The aim of this notice is to fill the role of technical architect SAP for project P1160 in the enabling …
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/competition-document-ukdi-security-open-call-2026-cycle-1 — summarised by Rearm Radar; verify details at source before bidding.
Enrichment: analyst (confidence 95%).