Sovereign AI R&D Procurement: Integrate AI at pace across Defence mission environments

What it funds

Develop open, secure, and modular-by-design AI capabilities that can operate on platform, in the field, and by dismounted forces in close combat. Defence's competitive edge is defined by its ability to integrate emerging technologies at speed, with a high tolerance for the rapid employment of low-TRL technologies. Defence operates concurrently from enterprise to edge, across disconnected and distributed environments at every classification, but has critical gaps in edge AI deployment now. Challenge owner: Ministry of Defence (MOD). Sovereign AI R&D Procurement Scheme. Contracts of £250,000 to £10 million, most around £1 million to £3 million; suppliers keep their IP. For UK-registered startups and SMEs only. Batch 2 opens 14 November 2026; submit proposals by 31 December 2026 (outcome 29 January 2027). Join the Approved Supplier List first: send the expression of interest by 17 December 2026, two weeks before the deadline. Not on Find a Tender: the scheme uses the R&D exemption in the Procurement Act 2023.

From the Sovereign AI Fund listing.

Who can apply

• Applicants must be registered in the UK.
• Small and medium-sized businesses only.

Key dates

• Opens14 November 2026in 2 weeks
• Expression of interest by17 December 2026in 7 weeks
• Batch 2 closes31 December 2026in 2 months

Dates as the Sovereign AI Fund listing gives them. Relative dates count from 26 October 2026.