Innovate UK Logo
Register
Register
Register

22 April 2026 - 14 May 2026

Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT) Collaborators Hub

Registration open until 14 May 2026

Advanced Connectivity Technologies Collaborators Hub

3

Registered participants

2

Participants in matchmaking

Welcome to The Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT) Collaborators Hub!

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will invest up to £25 million from the ACT R&D programme to accelerate the development, demonstration, and commercialisation of next generation communications technologies that strengthen the UK’s security, resilience, sustainability, and long-term competitiveness. This funding is from the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Proposals must address one of three strategic categories; each aligned to the UK’s overarching ACT Grand Challenges and the Integrated Security Fund (ISF) priority on sovereign telecoms components:  

  • Grand Challenge 1: Secure and Resilient Networks - Projects in this category should contribute to a demonstrable improvement in the security, reliability, and robustness of UK connectivity infrastructure. 

  • Grand Challenge 2: Sustainable Networks - This category supports innovations that enable more energy efficient and spectrum efficient networks. 

  • ISF Strategic Focus: Sovereign Telecoms Components and Applications - The Integrated Security Fund (ISF) aligned category focuses on developing sovereign UK capability in critical telecoms hardware and sensing technologies, with an emphasis on advanced Radio Frequency (RF) and integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) systems that strengthen national resilience.

Where relevant it is recommended that projects will utilise the national labs and facilities that are available and relevant to the projects. Including, but not limited to the Catapult Network, and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded Federated Connectivity Hubs and the Joint Open Infrastructure for Networks Research (JOINER) testbed.

This platform aims to support networking, collaborations, and applications, across the strategic categories.

How can you use this platform?

Collaborate with others and find partners: The platform offers a great opportunity to collaborate with others in your field or industry. Participants can meet potential partners, collaborators, or even competitors and share ideas and insights.

Gain visibility for your organisation: Create an "organisation page" so that others in the community can see what your company has to offer and can get in touch.

Post on the marketplace: Share information about your project and what kind of partners you might be looking for, outline what you need help with, or describe the types of connections you’re hoping to make.

Message individuals directly: Prefer one-to-one contact? Reach out to people directly to see if you’d be a good match to work together.

Book a 20-minute session with a potential collaborator: These meetings are designed to help you quickly assess each other’s interests and expertise, identify common goals, and uncover synergies.

We hope you make some great connections!

Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT) Competition Details

Other Open Competitions: