UK Defence Innovation opens Biosecurity Frontiers competition with up to £2 million
A new UK competition invites proposals on biosurveillance, AI for diagnostics and vaccines, and non-pharmaceutical protective systems.
UK Defence Innovation has opened the Biosecurity Frontiers themed competition, run by the Cabinet Office on behalf of the UK government, and is seeking innovative proposals to help deliver the ambitions of the 2023 UK Biological Security Strategy and the 2025 National Security Strategy.
The competition document states that proposals may be used by multiple government departments, sectors, and frontline users, including the police, the military, and NHS/public health bodies.
Up to £2 million excluding VAT is available, with the government expecting to fund five to seven proposals across three challenge areas: biodetection and biosurveillance; AI and diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines; and non-pharmaceutical protective systems.
Individual awards are expected to be in the region of £100,000 to £500,000, though the document states proposals at higher or lower values may also be funded.
The submission deadline is 12:00 midday BST on 10 June 2026. Projects are expected to start in September 2026 and run for no longer than 12 months. Proposals must progress through at least one Technology Readiness Level. For Challenges 1 and 3, projects must reach Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4-6, while Challenge 2 projects may reach TRL 7.
For biodetection and biosurveillance, the competition seeks capabilities to detect and monitor traditional and novel biological threats, including portable surveillance technologies, computational tools for analysing complex datasets, and permanently installed air surveillance systems in high-footfall locations.
For AI and diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, the document refers to AI-based support for identifying and developing new diagnostic, therapeutic, and vaccine candidates, including structure-based discovery and development tools.
For non-pharmaceutical protective systems, the competition covers lower-cost personal protective equipment, respiratory protective equipment with improved fit, decontamination and disinfection approaches, biodegradable PPE materials, and solutions that remove humans from operations in contaminated areas. The competition document says it is funded by the Integrated Security Fund, which supports priority national security themes in the UK 2025 National Security Strategy.
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