Open & upcoming calls

VRAI secured a DASA Defence Innovation Loan to help commercialise their data capture and analysis technology to help the RAF rapidly assess airmanship in future aviators VRAI’s data capture technology, funded through the DASA Open Call, has the ability to codify and predict airmanship performance. This technology can be used to accelerate training time for RAF recruits. Additional funding secured through DASA’s Defence Innovation Loan programme will help VRAI further develop the technology and prepare for commercialisation Run in partnership with Innovate UK, Defence Innovation Loans are designed to help SMEs develop and commercialise their mature defence solutions As part of the project, DASA provided guidance and helped VRAI test the system with the RAF and obtain vital military end user feedback Virtual training has become an essential component of modern defence, ensuring armed forces personnel can train proficiencies at scale while reducing costs. However, capturing and analysing training data has been a persistent challenge in defence, particularly in areas such as airmanship data from trainee pilots. Airmanship refers to the non-technical skills, and judgement required for aerial navigation. To operate an aircraft safely, it is vital that trainees are trained to a high standard to have good situational awareness, decision-making ability and aircraft knowledge. However, there are numerous obstacles to assessing pilot airmanship. It is constrained by the availability of in-person instructors that can observe students, as each instructor can only manage two or three students at a time. It is also heavily reliant on subjective observation. Introducing VRAI: Combining virtual reality technology with data capture Newcastle-based SME, VRAI , which specialises in virtual reality (VR) simulation training and data capture, recognised the need to provide trainee pilots with personalised training plans and data-driven feedback, to help them achieve their maximum potential in a shorter amount of time. With the help of DASA funding, VRAI developed a solution to enable the Royal Air Force (RAF) to better measure and predict trainee pilot performance, using a combination of VR and data capture technology, called HEAT. HEAT, which has been used to train staff in an array of vertical industries, can capture and generate rich data sets from commercial off-the-shelf VR solutions, which enables the capability to capture and store pilot data from simulated flying tasks. VRAI’s data capture and analysis technology enables the RAF to train airmanship in future military pilots to a higher standard, faster, and in a more cost effective way. It helps defence and security by: enabling instructors to train more students at the same time ensuring training performance is measure accurately ensuring good airmanship qualities can be codified, resulting is less subjective monitoring of student performance ensuring that students can readily self-assess their strengths and weaknesses against data enabling projections of trainee performance can be used to develop individualised training programmes enabling instructors to focus on more value added tasks when training students Testing helps VRAI collect 1 billion airmanship data points with the RAF VRAI submitted their innovative data capture solution to the DASA Open Call in 2020 and were awarded funding. DASA played a significant role in the project by offering VRAI guidance and helping them to test the system with the RAF, receiving valuable feedback from military end-users. The innovation was implemented at three RAF stations within a three-month timeframe, gathering nearly one billion data points from 40 RAF pilots, across the RAF 22 Group, and positive feedback from users. During the testing, VRAI was able to collect valuable trainee data which can be used to standardise airmanship training and assessment, helping to significantly reduce the amount of time needed to train quality pilots. Flying towards commercialisation: Defence Innovation Loans With an eye towards the future, VRAI secured a Defence Innovation Loan to further develop their innovation and market readiness. They will use these funds, to apply machine learning (ML) to the innovation in order to generate more robust actionable insights to further develop trainees, while also ensuring the RAF can utilise the system for self-training. To help with this, VRAI will also use the funding to develop customised dashboard metrics relating to airmanship. Niall Campion, Founder of VRAI said: We believe the technology we’re developing with this funding will allow us to bring genuinely game changing advancements in how training is delivered and its success is measured. Without DASA funding it would have been impossible for us to bring this product into the UK defence supply chain. By providing vital working capital while we demonstrate the value of the product in the defence industry, the Defence Innovation Loan will help us grow our business and deliver measurable improvements to training across both defence and other simulation markets. UPDATE: VRAI reaching new heights VRAI have continued to soar since working with DASA, securing a contract to develop a data driven tactical simulator for the Multi Launch Rocket System (MLRS) which is based in the 101 Royal Artillery Regiment in the North East of England. The project, which was funded through the DASA 1st Customer Fund, will enable the British Army to collect user performance data in order to improve crew performance while reducing the cost and carbon footprint of training. VRAI also recently announced plans to work with BAE Systems to harness the power of extended reality and artificial intelligence to enhance the training of fast jet pilots. BAE Systems will integrate VRAI’s HEAT data capture technology, which captures, analyses and visualises simulator data, in to a deployable simulator for a Hawk aircraft, the world’s most proven and successful fast jet trainer. The project is funded through the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP), which works to foster collaboration between small and medium-sized enterprises suppliers with leading defence companies. Anita Friend, Head of DASA, said: VRAI is helping deliver exciting new innovations to the UK defense supply chain in crucial areas such as AI and training simulation, helping the MOD continuously enhance its capabilities while also fostering its business growth. DASA is delighted to see the emergence of VRAI’s partnership with BAE, a direct outcome of DASA’s DTEP program. DTEP allows larger partner companies to benefit from early access to innovative technologies, materials, or processes from SMEs, that they can also help commercialise. Need help bringing your defence innovation to market? One of DASA’s main financial mechanisms to support with business readiness and the commercialisation of innovations is through the Defence Innovation Loans programme. Run in partnership with Innovate UK , these are designed to help growth-minded SMEs develop and commercialise their mature defence solutions and in doing so, tackle some of the challenges businesses face in moving from technology development to product and company scale up. Defence Innovation Loans Key points: Exclusively for SMEs Innovations must be at Technology Readiness Level 6 or above Loans from £100,000 - £2 million Loans can cover up to 100% of project costs to aid commercialisation of the solution Below market interest rate In partnership with Innovate UK Learn more about Defence Innovation Loans here and submit an application.

BTO is hosting a Proposers Day for the potential proposer community for the High-throughput Unmasking of Biological Interactomes with Binding Landscape Emulators program . | See Event

We will host a hybrid Proposers Day in support of the Atomically Precise Molecules (APM) solicitation in Arlington, Va., and via webcast on Sept. 30, 2026, from 9 a.m. to noon ET. | See Event

Businesses can apply for a share of £3.5 million, including VAT, to develop demonstrators for decarbonisation of the railway and customer experience in stations. This is a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition. It is open to organisations of any type and size, from any sector. 100% funding is available to successful applicants. Please read the full competition scope and invitation to tender before you make your application.

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £1 million for advanced materials R&D projects partnering with EUREKA country organisations, including South Korea. To be eligible for funding from Innovate UK, your collaboration: must include at least one UK registered business of any size must include at least one eligible partner from one of the participating regions of the EUREKA call for proposals for joint R&D projects on advanced materials can include UK registered research organisations must follow the full process correctly We strongly welcome partnerships with businesses from South Korea. Please read the full competition scope before you apply.

This SBIR seeks to combine such capabilities into a single, portable, integrated intervention and delivery platform for resuscitation, cardiovascular and lung support. | See Topic

This topic seeks to develop and demonstrate novel nanofabrication hard-mask materials. | See Topic

This topic seeks to develop a fuel-flexible spacecraft electric propulsion system. | See Topic

Seeks to develop and demonstrate a robust methodology to localize, characterize and model upstream noise and flow disturbances in hypersonic wind tunnels. | See Topic

DARPA TTO will host an Industry Day to brief potential proposers on the objectives of a future Next Generation Hypersonic Cruise Missile (NGHCM) program. This event precedes the planned release of a Program Solicitation (PS). Advance registration is required to attend. | See Event

We are soliciting innovative proposals in this technical area: physics and nonlinear control of inertial measurement units appropriate for tactical and unmanned missions for the PINPOINT program. | See DSO

Funding will help turn cutting-edge research into practical tools for farmers, from vaccines that protect pigs from disease to technology that tackles pests and boosts crop yields A £13 million investment will help bring new technology from the lab to the farm, giving farmers practical tools to tackle some of the challenges they face every day. Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle today (Tuesday 1 September) announced the opening of the latest Farming Innovation Programme competition, backed by £13 million to help promising agricultural innovations to move closer to market. Delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, the competition will provide a small number of high potential projects with grants of £1-3 million to help researchers, farmers and agri-tech businesses develop new products and services to improve productivity, resilience and sustainability on farms. Projects funded through previous rounds include everything from robots picking tomatoes and using hoverflies as natural pest control in berry crops to a new vaccine being developed to protect pigs against Streptococcus suis, a common bacterial infection. The vaccine aims to prevent disease, improving animal health and welfare while reducing the need for antibiotics and supporting more sustainable pig production. Together, these innovations show how agri-tech funding can turn cutting-edge research into practical solutions to challenges faced by farmers, from labour shortages and animal health to crop protection and sustainability. Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said: This funding will take brilliant ideas off the drawing board and put them to the test on farms, turning cutting-edge research into practical solutions that farmers can use. As set out in the Farming Roadmap, we’re backing the people turning ideas into action, helping farmers boost productivity, build resilience and meet the challenges of tomorrow. Chris Danks, Head of Agrifood at Innovate UK said: Innovation is critical to supporting a productive, resilient and competitive farming sector. By bringing together farmers, researchers and agri-tech businesses, this competition will help turn cutting-edge ideas into practical solutions that address the challenges facing agriculture today. Working in partnership with Defra, Innovate UK is supporting the development and commercialisation of innovations that can drive growth, improve sustainability and strengthen UK food production for the future. This latest round is part of the wider Farming Innovation Programme, with £123 million being invested in agricultural innovation this year following a £53 million boost announced in June . The funding supports the government’s commitment, set out in the Modern Industrial Strategy, to invest at least £200 million in agricultural innovation by 2030, backing rural growth, productivity and food security. Ahead of Back British Farming Day on Wednesday 9 September, the government continues to invest in homegrown agricultural innovation to solve real-world problems faced by farmers. Today’s announcement comes as applications open for the £30 million Farmer Collaboration Fund, helping farmers and land managers work together to cut costs, share knowledge and build resilience. ENDS Notes to editors The Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) is a government programme delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, supporting farmers, researchers and businesses to develop and test new technologies and solutions for the agriculture sector. The Small R&D Partnerships (Round 5) grant is designed to support a small number of high-potential projects developing new products or services through collaborative research and development. Projects can receive between £1 million and £3 million and can run for up to three years. Applications for the Farming Innovation Programme will open on 1 September. Further information on the funding available and how to apply can be found on the Farming Innovation Programme website . Projects referenced include: Vitrum: A project developing AI-powered robotic harvesters capable of picking tomatoes directly from the vine. The technology combines robotic arms, soft grippers and machine vision to help growers tackle seasonal labour shortages, increase domestic tomato production and reduce reliance on imports. Novel Enhanced Streptococcus suis Vaccine for Pigs: A project developing a new vaccine to protect pigs against multiple strains of Streptococcus suis, one of the most common bacterial infections affecting pigs. The project aims to improve animal health and welfare by preventing disease, while reducing reliance on antibiotics and supporting more sustainable pig production. FLYTHRIVE: A project exploring how hoverflies can be used as a natural form of pest control in berry production. Automated monitoring and natural attractants will encourage hoverflies to locate aphid colonies, with their larvae then feeding on the pests, providing a more targeted and sustainable alternative to chemical treatments.

This topic seeks to develop, integrate, and flight-test a high-altitude (~40,000 ft), high-speed (~400 knots) airborne geologic sensing system. | See Topic

This topic seeks to develop real-time, networked surveillance technology for accurate, automated New World screwworm detection. | See Topic

This topic seeks to demonstrate a capability that noninvasively detects and localizes occult (internal) non-compressible hemorrhage outside of a hospital. | See Topic

This topic seeks to develop a testbed utilizing economic frameworks to benchmark AI biases in dynamic environments. | See Topic

DSO is issuing a Disruption Opportunity, inviting submissions of innovative basic or applied research concepts in the technical domain of targeted neuroplasticity. | See Program

DASA has launched a competition to develop a semi-autonomous reconnaissance and survey system to help troops safely and stealthily advance into enemy territory over water. This Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) competition, run on behalf of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), seeks development and demonstration of a number of system demonstrators able to tackle key issues of gap crossing survey.

DARPA is hosting a Proposer Day for the Firefox program, which aims to pave the way for high-speed, scalable neural interfaces that may eliminate the need for invasive surgery. | See Event

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND UNIVERSITIES — CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION E.P.E Resolution of March 13, 2026, from the General Directorate of CDTI for the direct granting of aid for the year 2026 to R&D projects selected in the international programs Eurostars 3, Co-financed Partnerships.