Biosecurity Frontiers

The 2023 Biological Security Strategy was published to set out the vision, mission and plans to ensure that by 2030 the UK is resilient to a spectrum of biological risks and a world leader in responsible innovation. We define biological security as the means to protect the UK and UK interests from biological risks whether these arise naturally; through an accidental release of hazardous biological material; or by a deliberate biological attack. These risks could affect humans, animals, plants or the wider environment.

The evolving risk picture, new technologies and a persistent requirement for frontline users to be protected, means that the government is looking to diversify and strengthen the supply chains of non-pharmaceutical protective systems to help ensure those who look after us, as a society, remain protected. 

This call provides an opportunity for companies to provide solutions across the following priority areas:

• Challenge 1: Biodetection and Biosurveillance
• Challenge 2: AI and Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Vaccines
• Challenge 3: Non-pharmaceutical protective systems

Submission deadline

12:00 Midday on 10 June 2026 (BST)

Total funding available

Up to £2 million (excluding VAT) funding is available. We expect to fund 5 to 7 proposals across the 3 challenges, in the region of £100,000 to £500,000 each. We reserve the right to fund proposals at higher and lower values than these amounts.

Eligibility

The Biosecurity Frontiers themed competition is a UK initiative, focused on delivering the UK Biological Security Strategy and the 2025 National Security Strategy. This competition is only open to innovators based within the UK. We welcome proposals from across the full range of UK based suppliers including academia, individuals (i.e. sole traders), small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large companies. 

If you are an international company, to be eligible to submit a proposal into this competition you must have a UK registered business listed at Companies House. You must be based in the UK and intending to carry out project development activity within the UK

Where do I submit my proposal?

Via the UKDI Online Submission Service where you will need to register for an account if you don’t already have one. Only proposals submitted through the UKDI Online Submission Service will be accepted.