SNPN: 5G assured integration collaborative research and development
Innovate UK · United Kingdom
Funding to support collaborative R&D projects that integrate UK anchored advanced connectivity components at system level into technically assured end to end architectures ready for early market evaluation.
Summary
Deadline
1 Apr 2026
Complexity
Medium
Time to apply
20-60 hours
Updated
9 Jun 2026
Funding to support collaborative R&D projects that integrate UK anchored advanced connectivity components at system level into technically assured end to end architectures ready for early market evaluation.
Eligibility
Applicant types
Business, Research, Public Sector
Business size
SME, Large
Industries
Advanced connectivity, telecommunications, networking systems integration and industrial connectivity applications including sectors such as advanced manufacturing, defence, ports and national infrastructure.
Match funding
Required
Requirements
UK registered organisations including small, medium or large businesses, research and technology organisations, academic institutions, charities, not for profit organisations and public sector organisations. 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 organisat...
Eligible applicants
UK registered organisations including small, medium or large businesses, research and technology organisations, academic institutions, charities, not for profit organisations and public sector organisations.
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Project grant request between £2,000,000 and £4,000,000
Total fund available
£18,500,000
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.
Payment type
Reimbursement (in arrears)
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.
Eligible expenses
- Eligible project costs as defined in Innovate UK project cost guidance.
Ineligible costs
- Costs not eligible under Innovate UK IFS competition guidance.
Application and risks
Application platform
Innovation Funding Service
Competitiveness
Closed / Not accepting applications
Decision timeline
Applicants notified on 3 June 2026 following interview panel.
Assessment process
Applications reviewed by three independent assessors based on the content of the application and expertise relevant to the project.
Application sections
- Project details, application questions, finances and project impact sections.
Application components
Not specified
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.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
3 Mar 2026
Project duration
18 months
Project start
31 Jul 2026
Project end
30 Jan 2028
Co-funders
Not specified
Collaboration rules
- Projects must be collaborative. The lead organisation must collaborate with at least one other organisation applying for funding.
- Non funded partners from the UK, EU or other countries may participate and can carry out work in their home countries.
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.
Additional guidance
[{"label":"Research Category","value":"Industrial Research at TRL 4 to TRL 7 integration and validation activity."},{"label":"Subcontractors","value":"Subcontractors are allowed and must normally be selected through standard procurement processes. Overseas subcontractors are permitted if justified."},{"label":"Interview Stage","value":"Yes. Applicants passing initial assessment may be invited to interview between 27 May 2026 and 1 June 2026."},{"label":"Key Requirements","value":"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."},{"label":"Renewal Rules","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Important Notes","value":"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."}]
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 1 Apr 2026
- Funding amount
- Project grant request between £2,000,000 and £4,000,000
- Funding band
- Large (£5M+)
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Reimbursement (in arrears)
- Audience
- Business, Research Innovation, Public Sector, Mixed
- Industry
- Advanced connectivity, telecommunications, networking systems integration and industrial connectivity applications including sectors such as advanced manufacturing, defence, ports and national infrastructure.
- Last updated
- 9 Jun 2026
- Published
- 6 Mar 2026