Advanced Connectivity Technologies

Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect will play a central role in advancing the UK’s strategic plans for Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT). As part of the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy, the UK Government has identified ACT as one of the six Frontier Technologies in the Digital and Technologies Sector Plan.

The UK Government defines ACT as:

Emerging and advanced technologies that enable the transmission of data via communications networks and network infrastructure in an increasingly digitised economy and society, connecting both people and things. These include technologies that make up advanced wireless systems, such as 5G and the transition to 6G, non-terrestrial networks, and advanced optical networks.

UKRI, with Innovate UK, are working in partnership with DCMS to deliver a programme of R&D initiatives to support UK development of ACT solutions. These initiatives are designed to deliver on the UK Government’s ambitions for accelerating the commercialisation and deployment of Advanced Connectivity Technologies, both in the UK and around the world.

The ACT R&D programme, supported by Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect, will deliver a range of coordinated initiatives across the technology readiness scale, creating a pathway for ACT innovators to develop, commercialise and scale their solutions.