Contracts for Innovation: Cyber scale in critical sectors

Funding available for cyber innovation

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has opened a Contracts for Innovation competition focused on cyber security in critical sectors.

Up to £3.5 million is available in total. The funding aims to support the development and real-world testing of advanced cyber security solutions, helping organisations adopt and scale new technologies.

Individual projects can receive up to £300,000. Funding is provided through procurement contracts rather than grants.

Who can apply

The competition is open to UK cyber security businesses, including start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses. Your organisation should:

• have a cyber security solution at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7
• be ready to test your prototype in a real operational environment
• have a clear plan to commercialise your product

Projects must focus on areas such as:

• proactive cyber defence of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) systems
• detecting and removing advanced cyber threats
• threat hunting in critical sectors
• addressing vulnerabilities in legacy systems

Successful applicants will work closely with end users to test and improve their solutions in real environments, and reach TRL 8 or above by the end of the project.

Before you apply

This is a single-stage competition. Up to 20 projects are expected to be funded. Funding does not guarantee your solution will be bought or used in the future.

Potential applicants can register to join an online briefing on 7 May 2026 to learn more about the competition and how to apply.

The competition closes at 11am on 10 June 2026.

Full competition details are available on the Innovation Funding Service platform.

First published 1 May 2026