Defence Testbed Accelerator: £100,000 Funding Opportunity for UK Innovators

kelseygarbutt
Sep 3
2 min read

The Defence Testbed Accelerator, part of the Made Smarter Innovation | Digital Supply Chain Hub, is now open for applications.

This programme is designed to help the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and its supply chain securely manage and share manufacturing design data, enabling greater agility in distributed additive manufacturing (3D printing) of parts.

Funding and Focus:

UK-based technology innovators and start-ups can apply for up to £100,000 in grant funding to develop proof-of-concept solutions that address critical challenges for a national defence department. The programme will run at ‘Official’ security classification using simulated data, ensuring a secure environment for innovation.

Key Challenges:

The Defence Testbed Accelerator is searching for up to five tech SMEs who can develop proof-of-concept solutions to solve one of two challenges:

Collecting design information metadata from various Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems into a consolidated platform
Building the consolidated platform to allow people to view, access, and share all the data in one place, on a permissioned basis

Collaboration and Support:

Delivered by Digital Catapult, the accelerator will connect innovators with the MoD and leading supply chain partners, including Babcock, NP Aerospace, RBSL, and Thales. The programme is also supported by the National Composites Centre (NCC) and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) on behalf of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVMC).

Importantly, the programme does not take equity or IP from participants, giving innovators full ownership of their solutions.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must:

Be UK-based with a UK business bank account
Hold Cyber Essentials certification (or equivalent)
Complete all work in the UK

The deadline for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 28 September 2025.

Programme Benefits:

Funding – Up to £100,000 to design and develop challenge-focused proof-of-concept solutions.
Industry Partnerships – Collaborate with the MoD and Tier 1 defence suppliers.
Technical Mentorship – Access to Digital Catapult experts in systems architecture, security, and integration.
Validation & Visibility – Test and demonstrate solutions in a simulated real-world environment.
Networking & Showcase – Engage with peers and pitch at the accelerator showcase event in 2026.