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iX Challenge: Secure, Cost-Effective Use of Cloud-Based AI Tools in the Defence Supply Chain

The iX Challenge is a competition offering up to £60,000 in Innovate UK grant funding for UK-based small businesses, start-ups and other organisations developing secure, cost-effective use of cloud-based AI tools in the defence supply chain. Open, closes 6 November 2026.

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

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

A challenge seeking a secure, cost-effective way to use cloud-based AI, engineering and manufacturing tools with sensitive customer and defence data. Open to established businesses, academic institutions, start-ups, SMEs and individual entrepreneurs.

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, UK based or with the intention to set up a UK base can enter the challenge. Successful applicants can then apply for up to £60,000 Innovate UK grant funding.

Confirmed on the official page

Business size

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

Confirmed on the official page

Sectors

digital, robotics and ai, security and defence

Could your business apply?

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How to apply

Use the 'Find out more and apply' link to the Innovation Exchange challenge page.

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 05/10/2026 (5 October 2026), which is after today's date, so not yet open.
  • Selection is by the challenge holder; winner selected by the company. Innovation Exchange and Innovation Funding Service rules may apply.
  • Area list gives English regions and nations; no single slug matches the mix, so areas left empty.
  • Eligibility lists entrant types; the text does not state a minimum size limit beyond SMEs and start-ups.

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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 20 Oct 2026. No person has checked it, so confirm the details with Innovation Exchange before you apply.

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