CyberASAP funding confirmed for 2022/23 cohort

Funding competition opens 7 February 2022. Deadline: 2nd March 2022.

Register interest here to make sure you receive all relevant information in the run up to the competition opening. 

The UK Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has announced funding for the Cyber Academic Startup Accelerator Programme (CyberASAP) 2022/23 – a comprehensive programme of commercialisation support for academics to convert their cyber research into commercially viable technologies and services. The funding competition, whereby academic teams can apply for a share of funding to develop their commercial skills and go-to-market strategies, will open on Monday 7th February 2022 with an application deadline of 11am on Wednesday 2nd March 2022. The announcement follows the publication of the UK Government’s new National Cyber Strategy. 

CyberASAP is an 11 month programme featuring bootcamps, workshops and one to one mentoring sessions which provide talented academics with the tools, skills and confidence necessary to take their research out of the lab and into the market. In so doing, the programme plays a unique role in supporting innovation in the vitally important cyber ecosystem. The programme is delivered in partnership by Innovate UK KTN and Innovate UK.

Alumni of CyberASAP (currently in its fifth year) come from universities throughout the UK and have gone on to create 21 start ups; raised more than £17million in further funding; been successfully acquired (one by Google); licenced or made their technology available open source; joined further Accelerator programmes; and gained highly valuable and transferable commercialisation skills. Find out more about some of our Alumni from these case studies, and read about the impact of the programme here.

Last year, the programme trialled an additional challenge-led approach, welcoming applications from PETRAS projects, part of UKRI’s programme focused on Security of Digital Technology at the Periphery (SDTaP). Once again this year, CyberASAP will welcome applications from SDTaP projects alongside those in the usual “open” competition.

Diversity and inclusion are central priorities for DCMS, Innovate UK and Innovate UK KTN, and applications to CyberASAP from under-represented groups in the UK’s cyber sector are strongly encouraged.

“CyberASAP was our catalyst. It was a pivotal moment in turning a pipedream into something that seemed possible.” Lorna Armitage, CAPSLOCK (Year 3, Phase 1; Startup)

“This programme will take you from idea to reality” Ellen Kay, (Year 4,  Cybermind Technologies; spinning out)

“Without CyberASAP we wouldn’t have a company at all” Xavier Bellekens, Lupovis (Year 4, Spinout 2021).

If you are an academic with a cyber security idea and would like help to develop its commercial potential, get ready to apply for the 2022/23 programme.

Key dates for your diary:

• Competition details for CyberASAP 2022/23 will be published on 17th January 2022
• Competition opens on Monday 7th February 2022.
• Webinar briefing about the competition at 11:00 on Tuesday 8 February 2022.
• Deadline for applications is 11:00 on Wednesday 2nd March 2022.
• Selected teams will start the Value Proposition Phase of CyberASAP 2022-23 in April which runs until the end of May.
• Selected teams will progress to the Market Validation Phase which runs from June to July 2022.

Register interest here to make sure you receive all relevant information in the run up to the competition opening.

Meet this year’s teams at Demo Day – 17th February 2022

The final 10 teams from the current cohort are currently putting the finishing touches to their pitches and Proof of Concept demonstrators, ready to reveal them to an industry audience at the climax of the programme, Demo Day on Thursday 17 February 2022. Interested in joining us to get a feel for what these teams have achieved via the programme? More information and registration details are here.

Join us on social: Twitter, LinkedIn.

CyberASAP is funded by the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and delivered in partnership by Innovate UK and Innovate UK KTN.