Deadline: 11-February-2026
The Innovate UK has launched its Cyber Security Academic Startup Accelerator Programme to invest in innovative cyber security projects emerging from the UK’s academic research base.
The focus of the programme is on identifying the most promising commercial opportunities in academia relating to cyber security. This includes research aimed at protecting information systems, data, and services from unauthorised access, harm, or misuse, whether caused intentionally or accidentally. Proposals must clearly outline the area of research, the problem being addressed, the proposed solution, and an initial market validation plan.
The Cyber Security Academic Startup Accelerator Programme, known as CyberASAP, is a 10-month initiative and represents phase 1 of a potential two-phase competition. Phase 1 lasts up to four months and is split into two equal stages: an initial stage for value proposition development activities, followed by a stage for market validation activities. Teams invited to the market validation stage will present their work to an independent judging panel, which will select teams to progress further.
Project funding ranges from £5,000 to £32,000 across both phases, with eligible costs not exceeding £16,000 per phase. The award is provided on a no subsidy basis under the Subsidy Control Act 2022, meaning it does not give an economic advantage to any organisation and recipients must not be acting economically as defined by the act. In certain cases, EU State aid rules under the Windsor Framework may apply, allowing a ‘No Aid’ award in accordance with the R&D&I Framework.
For more information, visit GOV.UK.
