CfI: Counter UAS Demonstrations in Prison Environments
Funding
£40,000 – £80,000
Deadline
28 October 2026
Location
England
Applications
Deadline: 28 October 2026
Overview
This competition is open now. It is run by Innovate UK for UKRI's R&D Missions Accelerator Programme, funded from the Safer Streets Mission. It pays organisations to demonstrate and test low-cost counter uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) technology that can detect and track drones within UK prison estates. Funding comes as a contract. Up to £900,000, inclusive of VAT, is available. Each contract is worth between £40,000 and £80,000, inclusive of VAT, for up to 2 months. The funder expects to fund between 11 and 22 projects. Projects must start on 1 February 2027 and end by 31 March 2027. Your solution must autonomously detect and track a wide range of drones as, or shortly before, they cross the prison perimeter. It must send real time alerts to prison staff and use the SAPIENT architecture so it works with other sensors and countermeasure modules. It must be at technology readiness level (TRL) 6 or above. You need a working prototype by the end of February 2027, ready for independent testing in March 2027. You will bring it to a UK test facility for up to four days. Solutions that can identify the drone type, or that include non-kinetic countermeasures, are particularly encouraged. The funder will not back solutions that rely only on radio frequency detection, are not autonomous, or use kinetic countermeasures. The closing date is 28 October 2026 at 11:00am UK time. One practical point to plan for: this competition does not cover buying any solution. Any later adoption would go through a separate procurement process. Official source: https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/cfi-counter-uas-demonstrations-in-prison-environments-1. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
Requirements to check
Who can apply:
Key requirements:
- Funding is a contract awarded to a single legal entity, not a grant
- Projects must start on 1 February 2027 and end by 31 March 2027
- Total eligible project costs must be between £40,000 and £80,000, inclusive of VAT
- At least 50% of the contract value must go directly to R&D services
- Solutions must be at TRL 6 or above and compatible with SAPIENT architecture
- Solutions must be autonomous and must not use kinetic countermeasures
- Solutions relying only on radio frequency detection will not be funded
- You must attend up to four days of independent testing at a UK facility in March 2027
- Costs must include travel and subsistence for the test days
- The competition does not cover the purchase of any solution
You can lead a project if you are an organisation of any size, including organisations based in the EU, EEA or internationally. Contracts go to a single legal entity. You can subcontract specialist skills, but most of the work and key deliverables must be done by you in the UK, and most of the money spent in the UK. Total project costs must be between £40,000 and £80,000, inclusive of VAT. At least 50% of the contract value must go on R&D. The solution must be TRL 6 or above.
This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.
Organisations with a ready-to-test, low-cost drone detection and tracking system who can deliver a working prototype by the end of February 2027 and take part in independent trials in March 2027.
Regions
Full details from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Organisations can apply for a share of £900,000, inclusive of VAT, to demonstrate and test low-cost counter uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) technologies that are able to detect and track drones within UK prison estates.
Apply online through the Innovation Funding Service. You will create an account as lead applicant, or sign in for your organisation. The application has four sections: project details, application questions, finances and project impact. You can invite colleagues to contribute. Submit before the deadline of 28 October 2026 at 11:00am UK time.
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Create free accountLast updated: 16 October 2026