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The world of defence technology is brimming with opportunities for innovation, and the UK government is inviting proposals through various competitions. Here's a roundup of the current and upcoming opportunities:
Defence Innovation Loans
Defence Innovation Loans are open for UK-registered Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to apply for a loan to develop their innovative solutions to defence-themed problems. The current cycle, Defence Innovation Loans FY25/26 Cycle 4, is open until 28 October 2025. Initial outcomes for each cycle will be communicated within seven weeks of the closing date, not including public holidays and weekends.
For past cycles, you can find more information here. To stay updated on future cycles, visit the official website.
Open Call for Innovation
The Open Call for Innovation is a broad mechanism for proposing innovative ideas to defence and security stakeholders, even without a specific requirement. This mechanism consists of a series of competitions, including the Innovation Focus Areas, which run in cycles throughout the year.
The current Open Call for Innovation cycle, CY2025 - Cycle 3, is open until 23 September 2025. Details of past competitions can be found here.
Themed Competitions
Themed Competitions offer suppliers the opportunity to submit proposals around specific government areas of interest. Currently, there are two Themed Competitions open for application:
- The Themed Competition "Innovation in Support of Operations - Cycle 6" is open until 14 October 2025.
- The Themed Competition "Novel Technology for Intervening in Non-Compressible Haemorrhage" is also currently open, with a closing date of 04 November 2025.
Upcoming Themed Competitions
- The themed competition to support the adoption of the PYRAMID reference architecture for avionics and mission systems is expected to launch in September 2025.
- A themed competition specifically aimed at UK universities, encouraging a hands-on process of Design, Build, Test in multiple areas, is expected to launch in October 2025.
Market Exploration
A Market Exploration titled "Modelling and Monitoring Conflict Wounds" is currently open for submission with a closing date of 30 September 2025. Another Market Exploration, "Modelling and Monitoring Conflict Wounds," has already been launched.
Innovation Partners
The innovation partners enabled by the initiative include advanced manufacturing companies like Machina Labs in partnership with the ARM Institute, which focus on AI-driven manufacturing for defence sustainment, as well as technology firms like FOM Technologies that supply advanced materials R&D equipment to U.S. National Defense Laboratories. Dstl collaborates with academia, small businesses, and defence prime contractors to integrate the best solutions for UK defence and security.
For more information on the Innovation Partners team, please see the provided information on the website.
Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP)
The Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP) has an expected launch date that is yet to be determined. Stay tuned for more updates on the DTEP.
Innovation is at the heart of defence technology, and these competitions provide an excellent opportunity for UK businesses to make a real impact in this field. For more information and to apply for these competitions, visit the official website.
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