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GrantStartupDefence and Security Accelerator

DASA Open Call for Innovation

DASA Open Call for Innovation. UK-based companies and academics with defence and security innovation. Rolling submissions.

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Quick answer

DASA Open Call for Innovation is a UK funding programme. UK-based companies and academics with defence and security innovation. Rolling submissions. Funding: £150k Phase 1 / Up to £1m Phase 2. Tech innovators with defence-relevant proposals. It is published as a standard listing — verify current rounds and full criteria on the official source before applying.

Funding amount

£150k Phase 1 / Up to £1m Phase 2

Region

United Kingdom

Stage

Startup

Provider

Defence and Security Accelerator

Advisor view

This is a research-led programme — funding follows scientific quality and credible delivery. Industry applicants underestimate how rigorous the assessment is.

Frequently asked questions

When can I apply to the DASA Open Call?
Open Call accepts submissions on a rolling basis. Applications are reviewed in periodic assessment cycles.
How much can I apply for?
Phase 1 typically funds up to £150k for proof-of-concept; Phase 2 funds up to £1m for prototype development.
Who can apply?
UK-based companies, academics and consortia with innovations addressing defence or security needs.
Do I need a defence customer to apply?
Not at Phase 1, but Phase 2 typically requires a clear military end-user pull and engagement with a Front Line Command or defence partner.
Does my innovation need to be exclusively for defence?
No — dual-use technologies are common. The relevance to a defined defence or security need must be clear.
How does Phase 1 progress to Phase 2?
Successful Phase 1 outputs can form the basis of a Phase 2 application, but progression is not automatic.
What are DASA Innovation Partners?
Regional advisors who help applicants sense-check fit and shape proposals before submission. They are a key resource.
Is my IP protected?
DASA contracts include defined IP terms. Foreground IP arrangements are set out in the funding agreement.
How long does assessment take?
Open Call assessment cycles typically run every 2–3 months. Outcomes are communicated after each cycle.
Can international companies apply?
Open Call is for UK-based delivery. International partners can sometimes be included as subcontractors, subject to export controls and security considerations.

Who it's for

Tech innovators with defence-relevant proposals.

Usually too early when

Advisor signal

You have no research question or hypothesis, no credible PI, no host organisation, or no defined research plan.

Eligibility

UK-based companies and academics with defence and security innovation. Rolling submissions.

Common reasons applications fail

Weak research question, immature methodology, missing collaborators, governance gaps, or an ineligible host.

What improves your odds

A credible principal investigator with track record, an eligible host organisation, a clear research question, and an engaged commercial or clinical partner where required.

Typical successful applicant

A research-active university, NHS organisation, charity or research-intensive SME with experienced investigators and the governance to manage a research grant.

Common misconceptions

These are not innovation grants in the Innovate UK sense — they fund research, not productisation. Eligibility, IP and publication rules differ materially.

What comes next

Plan the translational pathway from the start — successful grants often hinge on whether the next stage is identified.

Funding context

Pairs with translational funding once underpinning research has matured.

Related routes