UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is launching a funding competition worth up to £900,000 to demonstrate and test counter-UAS technologies designed to detect and track drones operating around UK prisons.

The Contracts for Innovation competition will open on October 5 and close at 11 a.m. UK time on October 28, 2026. Innovate UK is operating the competition on behalf of UKRI’s R&D Missions Accelerator Programme, with funding provided through the Safer Streets Mission.

The competition is seeking high technology readiness level, low-cost C-UAS solutions capable of detecting and tracking drones to help deter or defeat unauthorized drone flights within UK prison estates.

Under existing regulations covering prisons and young offender institutions in England and Wales, it is an offense to fly drones within 400 meters of these facilities.