Webinar recording: ACT R&D programme industry briefing
techUK recently brought together the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), Innovate UK, and EPSRC to launch the UK’s Advanced Connectivity Technology (ACT) R&D programme, a four-year initiative backed by £270 million in funding.
The programme is designed to accelerate innovation, commercialisation, and growth in the telecom sector, aligning closely with the UK government’s industrial strategy and its focus on digital and technology-driven economic growth.
The ACT R&D programme builds on the UK’s strengths in advanced connectivity, including wireless networks, 5G/6G, optical communications, and the integration of emerging technologies. Its mission is to bridge the gap between research and commercialisation, supporting companies in developing the next generation of communications technologies.
Support for innovation between companies and academia
The programme is underpinned by four pillars of support: R&D investment, access to labs and facilities, spectrum management, and international collaboration on standards and joint research projects. Challenge-oriented funding mechanisms will focus on critical areas such as network security, resilience, and sustainability, ensuring that projects advance technical capability while addressing strategic telecom needs.
The ACT R&D programme emphasises robust governance and regulatory alignment. While industry collaboration is a priority, connecting SMEs to university testbeds and involving major operators in advisory and technical projects, international engagement with EU partners and Horizon Europe maximises global scale-up and adoption opportunities.
Stakeholders are encouraged to contribute to the UK’s digital infrastructure through the techUK Advanced Communications Technologies Working Group, bringing together industry and government to accelerate innovation across wireless, satellite, and emerging connectivity solutions. Participants can also join the Advanced Comms Tech Forum to explore real-world applications and future opportunities.
The ACT R&D programme represents a pivotal step in advancing the UK’s next-generation connectivity, fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government, and offering innovators multiple pathways to contribute to secure, resilient, and sustainable telecom networks.
Optical wireless communications research and testing facility
Apply for funding to establish an optical wireless communications research and testing facility. You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funding.
This facility will support communications architecture research and convergences among terrestrial networks, non-terrestrial networks, high altitude platform stations, inter-satellite links, free space optics, ground-to-ground networks etc.
Apply for follow on funding to support early to mid‑stage commercialisation of research in Advanced Connectivity Technologies. Projects must build on engineering and physical sciences outputs to deliver economic, societal, policy and environmental benefits for a more sustainable and resilient UK. Funded topics must align with Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s (DSIT) Sustainable Networks and Secure and Resilient Networks connectivity challenge themes.
Solution Development for Advanced Connectivity Technologies
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25 million to develop secure, sustainable or sovereign connectivity technologies that support the UK’s Advanced Connectivity Technologies programme. This funding is from DSIT.
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of £15 million, including VAT, to develop near term, testable solutions that advance the UK’s Secure & Resilient and Sustainable Network Grand Challenges through deployable prototypes on UK testbeds.
Tales has a background in law and economics, with previous experience in the regulation of new technologies and infrastructure.
In the UK and Europe, he offered consultancy on intellectual property rights of cellular and IoT technologies and on the regulatory procedures at the ITU as a Global Fellow at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI).
Tales has an LL.M in Law and Business by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) and an MSc in Regulation at the London School of Economics, with a specialization in Government and Law.
techUK brings together government, the regulator, telecom companies and stakeholders to help the UK maximise the benefits of adopting advanced communications services. We ensure our members have a clear understanding of market developments, customer requirements, and government priorities. Visit the programme page here.
how the UK can seize leadership in next-generation space-based connectivity. As global demand for secure, high-capacity communications accelerates, optical wireless technologies promise to surpass traditional systems, offering transformative benefits for resilience, security, and scalability.
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
Tales has a background in law and economics, with previous experience in the regulation of new technologies and infrastructure.
In the UK and Europe, he offered consultancy on intellectual property rights of cellular and IoT technologies and on the regulatory procedures at the ITU as a Global Fellow at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI).
Tales has an LL.M in Law and Business by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) and an MSc in Regulation at the London School of Economics, with a specialization in Government and Law.
Associate Director, Digital Infrastructure, techUK
Sophie Greaves is Associate Director for Digital Infrastructure at techUK, overseeing the Telecoms Programme, the Data Centres Programme, and the UK Spectrum Policy Forum.
Sophie leads our work across telecoms networks, security and resilience, supply chain diversification, advanced communications technologies, spectrum policy, and data centres - bringing these areas together into a dedicated Digital Infrastructure unit. She was previously Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy.
Prior to joining techUK, Sophie completed a masters in Film Studies at University College London; her dissertation examined US telecoms policy relating to net neutrality and content distribution.
Josh joined techUK as a Programme Manager for Telecoms and Net Zero in August 2024.
In this role, working jointly across the techUK Telecoms and Climate Programmes, Josh is responsible for leading on telecoms infrastructure deployment and uptake and supporting innovation opportunities, as well as looking at how the tech sector can be further utilised in the UK’s decarbonisation efforts.
Prior to joining techUK, Josh’s background was in public affairs and communications, working for organisations across a diverse portfolio of sectors including defence, telecoms and infrastructure; aiding clients through stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, media outreach as well as secretariat duties.
Outside of work, Josh has a keen interest in music, painting and sailing.
ACT R&D programme industry briefing presentation
