The SBRI competition is jointly funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Innovate UK. It targets the critical need for the UK to evolve its capabilities in Future Telecommunications, including technologies that will lead to 6G.

Funding and Project Size:

• Funding Type: Procurement
• Project Budget: Up to £7 million, inclusive of VAT.

What They Are Looking For:

The competition aims to encourage disruptive technologies that will fit into future communication networks and meet several key criteria, including:

• Performance
• Coverage
• Security

• Resilience
• Spectrum Efficiency
• Cost-effective deployment
• Energy Efficiency

Your project should:

• Drive telecommunication advancements.
• Foster industry collaboration and innovation.
• Lay the groundwork for next-gen networks.
• Generate protectable UK-based intellectual property.

Key Criteria:

• Your proposal must demonstrate a clear and credible route to market, complete with engagement strategies for end-users.
• The project must align with emerging telecommunications standards.

Specific Themes:

1. Network of Networks: Solutions can range from software-based approaches to systems that integrate terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.

2. Advanced Optical Networks: Must focus on breakthroughs in data rates, latency, and energy efficiency across local and long-haul networks.

3. Next Generation Wireless: Innovations in wireless communications, such as sub-terahertz and massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), are particularly welcome.

Research Categories:

• Prototype development and evaluation are the focus of this competition.

What They Will Not Fund:

• Unoriginal or out-of-scope projects.

• Projects without a clear route to market.
• Initiatives that do not show promise for positive economic or societal impact.

For successful applications, the expectation is that the UK will benefit as an early adopter of next-generation networks, thereby boosting its global share in the telecommunications sector. In line with their portfolio approach, they aim to fund projects across various technologies, maturities, and locations. Note that any adoption and implementation of a solution from this competition will be subject to a separate procurement exercise.