Innovation Support to Operations Phase 3

Innovation Support to Operations Phase 3

Funds UK-registered companies delivering manufacturable, TRL 6-ready defence technology innovations scalable to operational use within twelve months.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

Innovation Support to Operations Phase 3 (ISO Ph3) is a themed competition run by UK Defence Innovation (UKDI), the successor to the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA). It sits under the UKDI Themed Competitions stream, which funds technologies with near-term operational relevance to the UK Armed Forces. The competition targets innovations already at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 or above that can be manufactured and scaled in approximately twelve months. Awards are non-dilutive grants: the typical expected project cost is up to £350,000, with a hard ceiling of £1,000,000 (excluding VAT). UKDI takes no equity and asserts no IP ownership, though it retains a royalty-free licence for UK government use.

The competition is structured around specific defence technology gaps. Phase 3 focuses on counter-UAS interceptor sensors, one-way attack UAS seekers, UAS survivability, GNSS-denied navigation for UAS, jam-resistant telemetry, maritime autonomous navigation, and maritime terminal guidance. Proposals must demonstrate a clear path from current TRL to a prototype or manufacturable design within the project period. The grant covers 100% of eligible project costs with no match-funding required.

Eligibility requires UK Companies House registration. The entity must be based in the UK and carry out all project development activity within the UK. There is no requirement for the business to be UK-owned — international companies with a UK-registered subsidiary are eligible. Sole traders are not directly eligible; they must team with a Companies House registered entity. Consortia are permitted. No revenue cap or team-size limit is stated.

The competition runs in numbered cycles. Cycle 7 was the most recent, with a deadline of 12:00 Midday BST on 12 May 2026, which has now passed. No Cycle 8 date has been announced as of June 2026, but the programme has run multiple cycles since launch, and a future cycle is expected. Applications are submitted through the UKDI community portal. Proposals are assessed by UKDI technical experts on scientific and engineering merit, suitability for the target TRL range, cost competitiveness, and realism of the twelve-month scale-up plan.

A key practical point: the £350,000 figure is the anticipated project value, not a formal minimum or hard cap — you may request less. The hard cap of £1,000,000 exists but UKDI explicitly states most proposals should be in the £350,000 range. Requesting amounts well above £350,000 without strong justification is likely to be viewed unfavourably.