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iX Challenge: Resilient High-Altitude Communications, Navigation and Mission Connectivity for Persistent Autonomous Aircraft

The iX Challenge is a competition offering selected solution providers grants of up to £60,000 for resilient communications, navigation and connectivity technology for high-altitude autonomous aircraft, open to UK-based start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses. Open, closes 6 November 2026.

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

Checked against the official page (ktninnovationexchange.co.uk) on 8 Oct 2026.

An Innovate UK Innovation Exchange challenge set by Advanced Integrated Technologies Ltd (AiT) seeking resilient communications, navigation and mission-connectivity technologies for a persistent high-altitude autonomous aircraft. Selected solution providers may be invited to apply for a grant of up to £60,000.

Apply or find out more Official page

These details are gathered from public web pages and are not financial advice. Check them with Innovation Exchange 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: 05/10/2026 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 have the intention to set up a UK base can enter. Selected solution providers may then apply for a grant of up to £60,000 for a project of up to three months.

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, photonics, robotics & ai, security & defence, sensors, transport

Could your business apply?

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How to apply

Find out more and apply via the Innovation Exchange challenge page (ktninnovationexchange.co.uk/challenges/441).

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

  • Opens 05/10/2026 read as 5 October 2026 (challenge launch date); page status open as of today.
  • Grant is only available if selected; the provider is then invited to apply via Innovation Funding Service (IFS), which has its own rules.
  • Solutions should ideally be TRL 4 or above; the minimum grant request and project dates are as stated.
  • Deadline shown as 06/11/2026 5:00pm, i.e. 6 November 2026 at 17:00.

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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 8 Oct 2026. Its details last changed on 21 Oct 2026. No person has checked it, so confirm the details with Innovation Exchange before you apply.

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