This funding opportunity, a collaboration between Innovate UK and the Department for Transport (DfT), offers up to £3 million in grants. The focus is on advancing the UK drone sector by supporting projects that demonstrate progress towards commercialization or routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. This initiative aims to foster growth and align with the DfT’s ‘Future of Flight programme’ objectives.

Key Objectives and Project Focus

The primary goal is to accelerate the UK drone sector's development, aligning with the DfT's 'Future of Flight programme'. Projects should demonstrate tangible outcomes in new use cases or scaling up existing commercial applications, with strong end-user involvement. Alternatively, projects can focus on tangible developments supporting regulatory policy concepts or concepts of operation developed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS).

Successful projects must deliver either tangible outcomes in new use cases or scaling up of existing commercial use cases, with strong end user involvement. Alternatively, they can focus on tangible developments in support of the regulatory policy concepts, or concepts of operation being developed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to enable Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). Data and outputs must be shared with the CAA.

While flight demonstrations are not mandatory, proposals involving flights must comply with existing regulatory approvals or demonstrate a clear path to achieving them within the project timeline. The competition is highly competitive, and even high-scoring projects may not receive funding due to budget limitations.

Funding Details and Project Scope

This is a grant funding opportunity. The total eligible grant funding request for each project must be between £250,000 and £500,000. Projects should aim to demonstrate progress towards commercialisation or achievement of routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.

The funding is intended to support projects that build upon current state-of-the-art approaches in the drone sector. Proposals should clearly outline how the project will contribute to the growth of the UK drone industry and meet the objectives of the DfT’s ‘Future of Flight programme’.

The competition aims to invest in new innovation projects that can demonstrate tangible outcomes in new use cases or scaling up of existing commercial use cases. Projects must have strong end user involvement and be willing to share data and outputs with the CAA.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must be UK registered organisations. Projects must align with the competition's objectives of accelerating the UK drone sector and meeting the goals of the DfT's ‘Future of Flight programme’.

Applicants should demonstrate a clear understanding of the regulatory landscape and how their project will contribute to the development of RPAS. Proposals should outline the project's potential impact on the UK drone industry and its alignment with the DfT's objectives.

Key eligibility requirements include:

• Being a UK registered organisation.

• Requesting grant funding between £250,000 and £500,000.

• Aligning with the competition's objectives and the DfT's ‘Future of Flight programme’.

Important Dates and Deadlines

The competition opens on Monday 12 May 2025. The deadline for applications is Wednesday 11 June 2025 at 11:00am UK time. It is crucial to submit applications before this deadline, as late submissions will not be considered.

Applicants are advised to start the application process early to allow sufficient time for preparation and submission. Innovate UK cannot guarantee the accuracy of competition information on third-party websites, so it is essential to refer to the official Innovate UK website for the most up-to-date details.

Ensure all required documentation is complete and submitted by the 11:00 am on Wednesday, 11 June 2025 deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted, so plan accordingly.

Accessibility and Support

Innovate UK encourages applications from people of all backgrounds and is committed to making the application process accessible. Reasonable adjustments are available for applicants with disabilities or long-term conditions. Contact Innovate UK as soon as possible before the closing date to arrange support.

You can contact Innovate UK by email or call 0300 321 4357 for guidance. Phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). Early contact is recommended to ensure adequate support can be provided.

Innovate UK offers various support resources, including innovation funding advice, events, and connections to innovation experts. Applicants are encouraged to utilize these resources to strengthen their applications.