Complex Systems
Technology, innovation and globalisation have transformed the world in we live in. The systems we have created to supply the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the homes we live in are truly marvellous and complex; however, these systems are sometimes fragile, and can be a source of pollution.
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The role of our Complex Systems team is to explore further solutions to mitigate their effects, supporting the development of a circular economy.
The team focuses on mission-oriented innovation and embraces a systems thinking approach, focusing on:
– Space applications and geospatial data to support UK’s Net Zero ambitions
– Advanced Robotics to increase food quality and security
– Intelligent Systems to support the global effort to clean and recycle plastics
– Ethical AI to increase business productivity, advanced Security systems to keep families safe at work, rest or play
– Industrial Maths to help reduce food waste and food poverty.
Click here to see open funding opportunities including the above sectors.
Our current focus in this area
Related Opportunities
UK Defence Innovation: Rapid transfusion diagnostics - blood testing in the field
Opens: 16/03/2026 Closes: 02/06/2026
UKDI seeks innovations to support the donation and transfusion of blood in deployed settings.
More Information
UKDI Biosecurity Frontiers: Defending against biological threats
Opens: 17/04/2026 Closes: 10/06/2026
This competition seeks innovations to strengthen the UK's ability to detect, prevent and respond to biological risks.
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UK Defence Innovation: Map the Gap (Phase 3)
Opens: 22/04/2026 Closes: 16/06/2026
£2m total funding for proposals that can remotely assess terrain stability and measure rivers and nearby areas, to support safe and rapid traversing of land forces.
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Dual-use aviation systems and autonomy
Opens: 05/05/2026 Closes: 03/06/2026
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £10 million for the development of aviation technologies and systems that support both civil and military use cases. This funding is from Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
More Information
Counter UAS (Uncrewed Aerial Systems) Technologies
Opens: 05/05/2026 Closes: 03/06/2026
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £5m to develop dual use (civil & military) technologies to counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS).
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Contracts for Innovation: Cyber scale in critical sectors
Opens: 01/05/2026 Closes: 10/06/2026
Organisations can apply for up to £300k each to develop, demonstrate and commercialise their cyber security solution in real end user environments within critical sector organisations.
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