5G Assured Integration Collabor

Application Platform: Innovation Funding Service

Application Sections: Project details, application questions, finances and project impact sections.

Assessment Process: Applications reviewed by three independent assessors based on the content of the application and expertise relevant to the project.

Co-Funders: Not specified

Collaboration Rules: Projects must be collaborative. The lead organisation must collaborate with at least one other organisation applying for funding.

Competitiveness: Approximately 30% chance of success based on experience from similar competitions.

Consortium Requirements: At least two organisations must collaborate. No partner may account for more than £3,000,000 or 70% of total eligible project costs, whichever is lower.

Decision Risks: Funding may not be awarded if applications score below threshold, do not meet eligibility or scope requirements, or if Innovate UK determines funding cannot be allocated.

Decision Timeline: Applicants notified on 3 June 2026 following interview panel.

Eligible Expenses: Eligible project costs as defined in Innovate UK project cost guidance.

Eligible Scope: Projects must integrate UK anchored advanced connectivity components across Core, RAN, hardware or software layers into an end to end architecture, demonstrate secure multi vendor interoperability, generate technical evidence such as reference architectures and performance or security reports, and engage end users to ensure market alignment.

Funding Intensity: Up to 70% of eligible project costs for small organisations, up to 60% for medium organisations and up to 50% for large organisations.

Important Notes: Projects must carry out work in the UK and intend to exploit project results from or in the UK. Projects must not start before grant approval and must comply with the Research, Development and Innovation Streamlined Subsidy Scheme.

Ineligible Projects: Projects that focus solely on individual component development without system level integration, do not involve multi vendor interoperability, do not generate reusable technical evidence or reference architectures, or are primarily focused on large scale deployment or commercial rollout.

International Collaboration Requirement: Non funded partners from the UK, EU or other countries may participate and can carry out work in their home countries.

Interview Stage: Yes. Applicants passing initial assessment may be invited to interview between 27 May 2026 and 1 June 2026.

Key Requirements: Projects must include a systems integrator responsible for system design and interoperability, integrate advanced connectivity components at system level, and generate evidence supporting integration and assurance.

Lead Organisation Requirement: The lead must be a UK registered organisation such as a business, research and technology organisation, academic institution, charity, not for profit organisation or public sector organisation.

Match Funding Requirement: Organisations must fund the remaining portion of project costs not covered by the grant based on the funding intensity rules.

Project Duration: 18 months

Project End Date: 2028-01-31 00:00:00

Project Start Date: 2026-08-01 00:00:00

Publication Date: 2026-03-06 00:00:00

Renewal Rules: Not specified

Research Category: Industrial Research at TRL 4 to TRL 7 integration and validation activity.

Research Organisation Funding: Research organisations undertaking non economic activity can share up to 30% of total eligible project costs. They may receive up to 100% of eligible project costs or 80% of full economic cost if Je S registered.

Subcontractors: Subcontractors are allowed and must normally be selected through standard procurement processes. Overseas subcontractors are permitted if justified.

Total Fund Available: £18,500,000