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iX Challenge: Repeatable Adversarial Evaluation of Physical Tamper Protection for Defence Electronics

The iX Challenge is a competition offering up to £60,000 to UK-based start-ups, small and medium-sized businesses, and individual entrepreneurs to develop a reusable test for physical tamper protection of defence electronics. Open, closes 6 November 2026.

Run by iX programme, Innovate UK, Innovate UK Business Connect, Innovation Exchange

Checked against the official page (ktninnovationexchange.co.uk) on 14 Oct 2026.

A challenge set by Ethicronics Ltd seeking solution providers to develop a reusable test capability for physical tamper protection of electronic assets in transit and storage. Open to established businesses, start-ups, SMEs and individual entrepreneurs that are UK based or intend to set up a UK base.

Apply or find out more Official page

These details are gathered from public web pages and are not financial advice. Check them with iX programme before you apply.

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Status and deadline

Status

Open

Confirmed on the official page

Deadline

Closes 6 November 2026 at 5pm (5 days)

As stated: Opens: 09/10/2026 Closes: 06/11/2026 5:00pm

Confirmed on the official page

How much

Up to £60,000

Confirmed on the official page

Who can apply

Established businesses, academic institutions, start-ups, SMEs, or individual entrepreneurs that are UK based or intend to set up a UK base, with a grant funding request up to £60,000 for a project starting March 2027 and completing by 31 May 2027.

Confirmed on the official page

Business size

Start-ups, Micro (under 10 staff), Small (10 to 49 staff), Medium (50 to 249 staff)

Confirmed on the official page

Sectors

digital, electronics, robotics & ai, security & defence, sensors

Could your business apply?

Tell us about your business and an AI will compare it with this scheme's rules: what fits, what doesn't and what to check with iX programme. It takes a few seconds.

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How to apply

Use the 'Find out more and apply' link to the Innovation Exchange challenge page; successful applicants pitch to Ethicronics, and selected providers then submit to the Innovation Funding Service.

Not confirmed on the official page

Where it is open: UK-wide

United Kingdom

Confirmed on the official page

HartlepoolMiddlesbroughRedcar and ClevelandStockton-on-TeesDarlingtonHaltonWarringtonBlackburn with DarwenBlackpoolKingston upon Hull, City ofEast Riding of YorkshireNorth East LincolnshireNorth LincolnshireYorkCounty DurhamCheshire EastCheshire West and ChesterNorthumberlandCumberlandWestmorland and FurnessNorth YorkshireBurnleyChorleyFyldeHyndburnLancasterPendlePrestonRibble ValleyRossendaleSouth RibbleWest LancashireWyreBoltonBuryManchesterOldhamRochdaleSalfordStockportTamesideTraffordWiganKnowsleyLiverpoolSt. HelensSeftonWirralDoncasterRotherhamNewcastle upon TyneNorth TynesideSouth TynesideSunderlandBradfordCalderdaleKirkleesLeedsWakefieldGatesheadBarnsleySheffield

Open across United Kingdom, so every council area in the North of England is shaded.

Drawn from the areas the funder names. If a scheme is only for part of a council area, check its own page. Boundaries from the Office for National Statistics.

Things we could not confirm

  • Opening date given as 09/10/2026 on the registration details, but the challenge launch is listed as 5 October 2026; the page is recorded as upcoming because it is not yet open on 2026-10-13 per the opening date.
  • Award is up to £60,000 for the selected solution provider; the page does not say this is a grant to every applicant.
  • Project start is stated as March 2027 in one place and 'Starting by 1 March 2027' in another.
  • Funding is delivered via the Innovation Funding Service after selection; its own rules may apply.
  • Listed locations are regions outside Yorkshire and the North, with no specific place limits given beyond these regions.

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Source and last checked

Local Landscape gathers this information automatically from the pages below, then checks the key details against the official page. Checked against the official page (ktninnovationexchange.co.uk) on 14 Oct 2026. Its details last changed on 16 Oct 2026. No person has checked it, so confirm the details with iX programme before you apply.

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