UKDI launches Space to Innovate: Delta Drop

UKDI launches Space to Innovate: Delta Drop
Dstl and the UKSA are on the hunt for more innovations to improve future space capabilities for defence and security
- UKDI has launched a new themed competition - Space to Innovate: Delta Drop
- Funded by UKSA and Dstl
- Up to £985,000 funding available
- Two-stage competition process
UK Defence Innovation (UKDI), in partnership with the UK Space Agency (UKSA) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), has launched the fourth drop in our quest to find innovative solutions to improve future space capabilities for defence and security.
Since launching ‘Space to Innovate: Alpha Drop’ in 2021, Dstl and UKSA have awarded over £4.2 million in funding to 19 organisations. This funding has helped find and develop novel technologies to give the UK an advantage over adversaries in the space domain.
This latest Delta drop aims to continue this innovation by finding and funding technologies that may not otherwise be developed in the commercial space sector but are critical for defence and government use across three challenges:
Challenge 1:
Technologies to enhance future sensor to response capabilities, improving coverage and response times for Space Domain Awareness (SDA), Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and communications missions.
Challenge 2:
Novel technology approaches to self-protecting space based platforms.
Challenge 3:
Technologies to enable resilience against ground based electromagnetic threat.
Please read the full competition document before you enter your submission.
Key dates and funding:
Stage 1 submission deadline: 28 July 2026
Stage 2 submission deadline: 25 August 2026
Up to £985,000 is available for projects lasting up to 18 months, targeting Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 to 6.
Background
As the UK increases it’s presence in the space domain, there is a growing requirement for advanced technologies to support defence and security operations. This includes improving how data is collected, processed and transmitted, as well as ensuring systems remain resilient against emerging threats. This drop aims to address these challenges by encouraging innovation from across industry and academia.
Supporting events
Launch webinar: Wednesday 8 July 2026
This launch webinar will provide further detail on the problem space and a chance to ask questions in an open forum. If you would like to participate, register via this Eventbrite page.
One-to-one sessions: Thursday 9 July 2026
A series of 15-minute one-to-one teleconference sessions, giving you the opportunity to ask specific technical questions to the competition team in a closed forum.
Registration for these sessions will be available straight after the webinar.
Non-technical questions about the competition process should be sent to the UKDI Help Centre: accelerator@dstl.gov.uk.
Submit a proposal
Do you have an innovative solution to advance future space capabilities for defence and security? If so, we’d love to hear from you.
Please read the full competition document and submit a proposal.