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The Advanced Connectivity Technologies: New Innovators competition is designed to help ambitious UK micro and small businesses develop innovative communications technologies with strong commercial and societal potential.
Delivered by Innovate UK through the UKRI Advanced Connectivity Technologies R&D Programme, and funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the competition provides targeted support for businesses that have not previously received direct Innovate UK funding.
The programme aims to help companies explore technically ambitious ideas, assess their commercial feasibility, create new intellectual property and revenue streams, and build a stronger foundation for future investment and growth.
Key Dates and Funding
Opens: 7 July 2026
Closes: 5 August 2026
Funding: Between £25,000 and £50,000 per project
Projects will receive funding covering 100% of eligible project costs. The total project cost must match the grant request and must not exceed £50,000.
Programme Overview
The competition supports short, focused projects that help small businesses develop, demonstrate, and commercialise advanced connectivity innovations.
Projects should result in new products, processes, services, or business models that are significantly more advanced than currently available alternatives. Applicants must demonstrate a strong technical concept, a clear need for public funding, and the capability to deliver the proposed project.
The funding can be used to help businesses:
Technology Themes
Projects must align with one of two Advanced Connectivity Technologies Grand Challenges.
Challenge 1: Secure and Resilient Networks
This challenge supports technologies that improve the security, reliability, and resilience of communications infrastructure.
Relevant innovations may address:
Projects should demonstrate measurable improvements over existing network security and resilience solutions.
Challenge 2: Sustainable Networks
This challenge supports communications technologies that reduce energy use, carbon emissions, infrastructure costs, and material waste.
Relevant innovations may include:
Projects must show how their solution will improve environmental performance while maintaining or enhancing network capability.
Who Can Apply
The lead applicant must be a UK-registered:
Why This Competition Matters
Advanced connectivity technologies underpin critical national infrastructure, digital services, economic productivity, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and connected devices.
However, early-stage companies often struggle to access the funding needed to test new communications technologies and build evidence of technical and commercial feasibility.
This competition provides first-time Innovate UK applicants with an opportunity to validate promising ideas, strengthen their commercial position, and build the evidence required to secure future investment and larger-scale innovation funding.
How Inventya Can Help
Developing a successful Innovate UK application requires a clear demonstration of technical innovation, commercial potential, and a credible route to market. Inventya works closely with innovative businesses to transform promising ideas into competitive funding applications that align with the assessment criteria and maximise the likelihood of success.
Our support includes:
With extensive experience supporting organisations across Innovate UK, Horizon Europe, EIC Accelerator, Eurostars, NIHR, and other major innovation funding programmes, Inventya helps businesses develop high-quality proposals that not only secure funding but also support long-term commercial success.
