Calls to action and opportunities list
Find here the latest opportunities and calls to action for the semiconductor sector.
DBT’s UK Tech Showcase at London Tech Week 2025
London Tech Week 2025 (9th – 13th June) is the UK’s largest and most influential tech event. Complementing the official London Tech Week programme, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is curating a programme of events to showcase the strengths of UK tech. Deadline for registration: 11 April 2025
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £3 million for collaboration with Canadian SMEs on joint R&D projects. The aim of this competition is to stimulate the development and implementation of innovative technologies across a range of sectors and technology areas. Closing date: 16 April 2025 11:00am
AUKUS Maritime Innovation Challenge 2025: Undersea Communications and Autonomy - GOV.UK
AUKUS partners are seeking to research and develop innovations to enable the synchronisation and teaming of multiple undersea systems. The deadline to submit a proposal for Stage 1 is midday 28 April 2025 (BST).
Chips JU ECS R&D Calls: New opportunities & funding for semiconductor R&D with EU
The UK joined the Chips JU last year and a number of UK organisations were successful in securing funding during the 2024 ECS R&I call. These calls present a brilliant opportunity to make connections that we know can generate future customers and collaboration opportunities. Phase 1 deadlines are on the 29 April 2025. The opportunities include both global calls and focused calls on RISC-V and heterogenous integration for automotives, and AI tools for automation.
National Space Innovation Programme – Call 2
Aim: To fund proposals on any space technology, application or service, UKSA intends to strategically target up to 30% of the Call 2 budget on the theme of “Space Data for Earth Applications”. In support of this theme, projects that seek to deliver capabilities and applications that utilise satellite data to the benefit of UK citizens and grow the economy are welcomed. Close: 08/05/25
Japan-UK Joint call for Quantum Technologies for Innovation
Apply for funding to form world-leading partnerships with collaborators in Japan. This international joint funding opportunity will support research projects in the field of Quantum Technologies. Closing date: 8 May 2025 16:00 UK time.
DASA - Innovation in Support of Operations | Phase 2
Aim: To identify and accelerate innovative solutions and techniques, ensuring they can be scaled and deployed faster than adversaries. Close: 20/05/25 | 05/08/25 | 14/10/25
Apply for proof of concept to support the commercialisation of research to enable spinouts or social ventures, licencing or other commercialisation pathways. Applications from any disciplines are welcomed. No pre-existing UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding is required. The programme will not support discovery-driven research. You must be based at a UK research organisation. Closing date: 29 May 2025
Artificial intelligence, engineering biology and quantum technologies: highlight notice – UKRI
Apply for funding for the application of artificial intelligence (AI), engineering biology, and quantum technologies in biomedical research and development. You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for MRC funding. Opening date: 12 March 2025 Closing date: 29 May 2025
Innovation Exchange challenge: Counter Multi-Domain Unmanned Vehicles & Vessels
BAE Systems invites innovative solutions that can support the timely and successful conduct of Counter Multi-Domain Unmanned Vehicles and Vessels (C-UxV) in response to increasingly complex and diverse threats. This opportunity is open to both academic and industrial practitioners. Industrial participants can be established businesses, start-ups or SMEs of any size. Research Technology Organisations (RTOs) such as Catapults are eligible to apply. Registration closes: 30 May 2025
The Wales Technology Awards 2025 are back for a landmark 10th anniversary. This year the Awards act as the grand finale of Wales Tech Week, running from the 24th to 26th November all at the same venue. Entries for the Wales Technology Awards 2025 are now open! Award entries close: 16 June 2025.
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is pleased to launch Phase Two of our fast paced Themed Competition Innovation in Support of Operations. Run on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, this competition is looking for innovative proposals that are cost competitive, designed for manufacture, and can be scaled in an approximate twelve-month timeframe. Three competition cycles closing on 20 May 2025 12:00 Midday (BST); 05 August 2025 12:00 Midday (BST); 14 October 2025 12:00 Midday (BST)
Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 10, business and non-academic
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £110 million for ambitious research and innovation projects in any sector, and tailored support to develop careers for future leaders. This funding is from UKRI. Competition opens: Monday 23 June 2025. Competition closes: Wednesday 5 November 2025 11:00am
Agile Cymru is a scaleable programme of coordinated action, an agile tool to deliver greater economic co-operation at speed, guided by the International Strategy and our economic policies. This includes a flexible grant mechanism to support cross-border and international activity that maximises shared opportunities across themes, sectors, and geographies. Agile Cymru funding can support a wide range of activity; the focus is on the outcome and benefit for Wales.
SMART Flexible Innovation Support (FIS) | Business Wales (gov.wales)
The Welsh Government is building a stronger, fairer, greener country, with an economy based on fair work, sustainability and the sectors of the future. SMART Flexible Innovation Support (FIS) is open to any organisation wishing to engage in Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I), including the third sector, local authorities and health boards. Open ended
Academic-Industry Partnerships In Cardiff Capital Region
Jointly funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund and Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) the Academic-Industry Partnerships programme, part of the Cluster Development and Growth Programme, aims to bring together industry and academia to identify innovative solutions to enterprise challenges, particularly amongst micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Open ended
Strategic Innovation Fund: Round 5 Challenges
Innovation Challenge 1: Advanced Energy Transmission and Networks: How can we leverage breakthroughs in semiconductor, superconductor,
and wireless power transmission technologies to enhance grid performance? Projects applying to this challenge should align with and build upon existing UK and international initiatives in advanced energy transmission. Applicants should consider how their innovations complement prior research and industry developments.
Share your news and opportunities with us at comms@csconnected.com.
Events
Find here upcoming events for the semiconductor sector.
Semiconductors and Quantum: How can the UK drive forward these technologies together?
Join techUK, as part of World Quantum Day, as we convene key voices in quantum and semiconductor sectors, exploring how to maximise the continued innovation, growth and commericalisation of these technologies in tandem. 14 April 2025 Online
TechUK next Defence Spring Dinner will be held on 22 May 2025 in London.
Share your news and opportunities with us at comms@csconnected.com.