Funding call · UKDI · UK
UKDI Security Open Call 2026 Cycle 1
UK Defence Innovation (incl. former DASA) · published 03 Aug 2026 · · Source ↗
Deadline27 Aug 2026 10 days left
Budget / value—
Statusopen
Why it matters
The Security Open Call is UKDI's recurring, broad-scope entry point for non-incumbents into UK security/defence funding, with a two-stage sift rather than a full tender. Relevant to early-stage security and dual-use tech firms (sensing, cyber, AI, C-UAS) able to submit a short Stage 1 proposal in under two weeks.
Do this: Download the competition document and submit a Stage 1 proposal via the UKDI submission portal before 12:00 BST on 27 August 2026.
Route: grant application · For: BD / bid leads at defence-tech scale-upsEstablished SME suppliers & subsystem makersIndustrial firms entering defence
Summary
UK Defence Innovation (successor to DASA) is running Cycle 1 of its 2026 Security Open Call, seeking proposals that address security challenges faced by UK government stakeholders. Stage 1 submissions close at midday on 27 August 2026; invited Stage 2 submissions are due by midday on 29 October 2026. Scope details are set out in the competition document.
Eligibility
Not stated in the text; proposals must address UK government security challenges in scope of the competition document.
Source text (raw, may be non-English)
The Security Open Call is a competition which UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) runs to find proposals that address security challenges faced by government stakeholders. The UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) uses the Security Open Call to find ideas that address challenges across the Security landscape. The scope relating to specific competitions is contained with each respective competition document. Please read the competition document in full for all details of the Open Call for Innovation competitions currently accepting proposals. Deadline for Security Open Call 2026 Cycle 1 - Stage 1 submissions: 12:00 midday on 27 August 2026 (BST) Deadline for Security Open Call 2026 Cycle 1 - invited Stage 2 submissions: 12:00 midday on 29 October 2026 (GMT)
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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.
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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-document-ukdi-security-open-call-2026-cycle-1 — summarised by Rearm Radar; verify details at source before bidding. Enrichment: anthropic/claude-opus-5 (confidence 80%).