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Funder · Federal agency

Defence and Security Accelerator

Runs Defence and Security Accelerator, a Ministry of Defence vehicle for defence and security innovation at early technology stages.

United Kingdomwww.gov.uk
Key stats
Annual funding—
Programs3
Active grants0
Total grants5
About

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) sits under the UK Ministry of Defence and, since February 2026, has been folded into UK Defence Innovation. It funds exploitable innovation for UK defence and security through MOD-standard contracts rather than grants, with delivery built to move early-stage technology into use.

Its main routes are the Open Call for Innovation, which is currently paused…

Programs & grants under this funder
Defence Innovation Loans

Invests Defence Innovation Loans, repayable loans for later-stage innovation work and commercialisation of mature defence innovations.

1 grant
Defence Innovation Loans
Closed
— pool
DASA / UKDI Open Call for Innovation

Offers DASA UKDI Innovation Contract Call, contracts for disruptive defence and security innovations with flexible delivery milestones.

1 grant
DASA / UKDI Open Call for Innovation (paused
Between cycles
— pool
UKDI Themed Competitions

Runs UKDI Themed Competitions, time-bounded funded contracts addressing specific defence and security challenges defined by Dstl and MOD customer.

3 grants
Biosecurity Frontiers
Closed
£2M pool
Map the Gap Phase 3
Closed
£2M pool
Rapid Transfusion Diagnostics: Optimising Safety on Deployed Operations
Closed
£3M pool
Parent entityMinistry of Defence
Last verified: 31 May 2026Source: www.gov.uk