Cyber Local 2025-2026

Overview

The aim of this competition is to develop impactful regional activities and events that focus on supporting the growth of the cyber security sector and the development of cyber security skills.

These projects will be to resolve geographical disparities in the development and growth of the cyber security sector and to reduce the skills gap in the sector.

Scope

Your project must:

• Be delivered in one of the nine specified geographical areas
• Demonstrate clear impact in the cyber security sector of the region through the development of strong and innovative cyber security ecosystems or increasing opportunities for activities to reduce the skills gap
• Have endorsement of your area steering group

The nine specified geographical areas are:

• North West England
• South West England
• Yorkshire and Humber
• North East England
• East Midlands
• West Midlands
• South East England
• East of England
• London

Further information and the contact details to obtain the endorsement from the steering group of your geographical area can be found in the Supporting Information tab.

Your project can:

• Consider self-sustaining mechanisms to continue
• After the funding period
• Consider scalability and how the idea could expand within the area or be replicated elsewhere
• Demonstrate collaboration with other local organisations or government bodies to boost reach and impact
• Complement or build on and not replicate CyberFirst activities in regions with an active CyberFirst regional partner

Applications that support women into the cyber workforce and initiatives that are aimed at inspiring young girls to consider a technology career are welcome.

Specific themes

Your project must focus on one or more of the following:

• Strengthening the local cyber security sector through area partnerships and forging links between industry, public sector and academia
• Supporting the development of strong and innovative cyber security ecosystems
• Increasing opportunities for local people to pursue a career in cyber security, paying particular attention to underrepresented communities
• Cyber security skills for local people or communities to reduce the skills gap
• Upskilling underrepresented demographics in the cyber security sector

Eligibility

Your project must:

• Have a grant funding request between £25,000 and £150,000
• Last between three months and six months
• Carry out its project work in the UK
• Intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
• Not start before 1 September 2025
• End by 31 March 2026
• Have endorsement of your area steering group

Funding

Innovate UK and DSIT have allocated up to £1.8 million to fund innovation projects in this competition.

Your total project costs will be up to 100% funded, up to the maximum grant of £150,000. Your grant funding request detailed within your application must not exceed £150,000. If your grant funding request exceeds £150,000 then your application will be made ineligible. Your project costs can be higher than your grant funding request.