Advanced Connectivity Technologies Growth Programme

Accelerating UK businesses with high potential to scale across telecoms, satellite, and semiconductor innovation.

Co-developed with Innovate UK and delivered by Digital Catapult, Satellite Applications Catapult and Semiconductor Catapult, the Advanced Connectivity Technologies Growth Programme is a pilot that supports ambitious UK businesses looking to scale deep tech connectivity solutions across telecoms, satellite and semiconductor technologies.

The UK Government defines Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT) as “emerging and advanced technologies that enable the transmission of data via communications networks and network infrastructure in an increasingly digitised economy and society, connecting both people and things. These include technologies that make up advanced wireless systems, such as 5G and the transition to 6G, non-terrestrial networks, and advanced optical networks.”

Emerging connectivity innovators often face structural scale-up barriers, including high capital requirements, difficulty accessing specialised validation infrastructure, and credibility gaps when entering markets dominated by established vendors.

To overcome these challenges, the three Catapults, working with Innovate UK have joined forces to deliver tailored support that de-risks commercialisation, sharpens investment propositions, and accelerates technology readiness – helping the most promising UK businesses working with advanced connectivity technologies (ACT) scale with confidence.

This programme is open to high-potential UK businesses developing advanced connectivity technologies, with the ambition and potential to scale.

It supports companies working across network infrastructure and wireless transmission, photonics and advanced semiconductors, satellite communications, and quantum-secure technologies, with a particular focus on those facing barriers around technology readiness, market access, commercialisation or investment readiness.

Applications are welcomed from companies that haven’t previously accessed Innovate UK support or funding.

Selected companies will benefit from an integrated scale-up offer delivered jointly by experts from Digital Catapult, Satellite Applications Catapult and Semiconductor Catapult. Applications open in October 2026 with support running from January to March 2027 during which, the three Catapults will identify the most critical barriers to each company’s next stage of growth and provide bespoke support through targeted intervention. 

The programme begins with a detailed assessment of each company, shaping support around its specific needs. This may include support in investment readiness, customer and market access, commercial strategy, technology readiness, testing and validation, scale-up planning, access to testbeds and facilities as well as connections to relevant partners and expertise. Participants will have the opportunity to connect and collaborate with other organisations across the cohort, bringing together leading High Potential Businesses (HPBs) from the ACT ecosystem. These connections can foster valuable knowledge sharing, collaboration opportunities, and potential commercial or innovation partnerships. 

By the end of this programme, each participant should leave with practical benefits, a clearer growth pathway and a prioritised action plan, along with clearer routes into relevant customers, investors, partners, Catapult capabilities and future Innovate UK opportunities where appropriate. 

We are looking to partner with active investors across deep tech, connectivity, telecoms, satellite and semiconductor markets. Investors will have opportunities to engage with fellow ecosystem stakeholders and, where appropriate, introductions to investment-ready cohort companies aligned to their investment focus.

By engaging with the programme, investors can share insights on investment trends and growth challenges and contribute to the development of the UK’s next generation of advanced connectivity businesses.

Get in touch with the investment team