Current funding streams - Academic Institutions

Search the open competitions below to find funding for your next telecoms R&D project.

For guidance on applications, forming a consortium and reviewing funding opportunities, book an appointment with one of our specialist advisers today at specialistguidance@uktin.net.

Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is an EU research and innovation programme. It has a budget of €95.5 billion and runs until 2027.

The UK agreed a deal to associate to Horizon Europe on 7 September 2023.

UK researchers can now apply for Horizon Europe funding, certain that all successful UK applicants will be covered through the UK’s association (or through the guarantee) for the remainder of the programme.

Horizon Europe

Pre-announcement: UK future internet NetworkPlus

Apply for funding for a UK future internet NetworkPlus which brings together the research community, policymakers and wider stakeholders to make the UK an active leader in the development of the internet and an intelligent customer of internet technologies in the 2030s and 2040s.

You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding.

Awards will start by 1 July 2025 for three years and nine months.

Note: This is a pre-announcement and the information may change. The funding opportunity will open in late June 2024. More information will be available on this page then.

Contracts for Innovation: FOAK 2025 – AI for Complex Processes

Organisations can apply for a share of up to £4.7 million inclusive of VAT, across four themes to develop a prototype, conduct field testing and demonstrate their solution. Projects can last between 3 and 7 months and must be completed by 31 March 2026.

Competition opens: Monday 7 April 2025
Competition closes: Wednesday 28 May 2025 11:00am

Contracts for Innovation: FOAK 2025 – Platform Train Interface

Competition opens: Monday 7 April 2025
Competition closes: Wednesday 28 May 2025 11:00am

Developing Semiconductor Hardware For Critical Technologies

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £5 million. These feasibility studies will investigate ways to improve semiconductor design and manufacture within the UK to support critical technologies.

Competition opens: Monday 14 April 2025
Competition closes: Thursday 29 May 2025 11:00am

Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2025 – 2026 Round 2

UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £9 million to fund innovation projects with businesses or not for profits.

Competition opens: Monday 14 April 2025
Competition closes: Wednesday 11 June 2025 11:00am

Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 10, business and non-academic

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £110 million for ambitious research and innovation projects in any sector, and tailored support to develop careers for future leaders. This funding is from UKRI.

Competition opens: Monday 23 June 2025
Competition closes: Wednesday 5 November 2025 11:00am

This competition has not yet opened.

6G Telco Cloud and Service Provision Enablers

Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) has opened its 2025 Calls in May for submission in September.

Those interested in submitting a proposal can find more details about the 2025 open SNS Calls and various Topics.

6G NTN-TN Unification/Integration

Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) has opened its 2025 Calls in May for submission in September.

Those interested in submitting a proposal can find more details about the 2025 open SNS Calls and various Topics.

Higher Speed Optical Access Networks and future end-to-end Packet Optical Network Architecture in 6G

Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) has opened its 2025 Calls in May for submission in September.

The main outcome will be the availability of higher speed optical access networks and future end-to-end packet optical network architecture to be integrated and interfaced to the overall 6G architecture. Such systems can be applied to all domains in the system and allow a very energy-efficient data transport for very high throughput rates.

Smart Security / Security Services

Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) has opened its 2025 Calls in May for submission in September.

Canada-UK Semiconductors

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of at least £1 million for collaboration with Canadian SMEs on joint Semiconductors projects.

Microelectronic – Front-End Module (FEM)