Our priorities
Our goal is to meet today’s capability needs while futureproofing for tomorrow’s challenges. To achieve this, we build long-term partnerships with strategically aligned businesses and venture firms where there is clear demand from the UK’s NS&D community.
We focus on four core technology themes, informed by government led reviews, strategies, action plans and visions to support UK NS&D priorities:
AI & Data
AI & Data accounts for much of NSSIF’s customer demand signals for Work Programmes, Investment and Insight. By focusing on priority industries, including advanced analytics, AI security and assurance, edge AI, trust infrastructure, autonomy, and fintech, we aim to identify, develop and invest in data-centric capabilities. This reflects the strategic government direction contained in the 2025 Spending Review, Strategic Defence Review, Defence Industrial Strategy & AI Opportunities Action Plan.
Quantum, Semiconductors & Advanced Compute
We support the National Quantum Strategy by focusing on strengthening the UK quantum ecosystem and building relationships with UK quantum start-ups, as well as advancements in sensing and semiconductors, to ensure that NS&D community can take full advantage of current and future capabilities from these technologies. We are proud that currently, around 4% of UK quantum investment is from NSSIF.
Space & Comms
We prioritise dual-use technologies that underpin critical space infrastructure and support UK interests in space. This includes advanced satellites and antennas, in-orbit service and manufacturing, position, navigation and timing and a range of future advanced communications. We work across government and with wider partners in support of the National Space Strategy and Defence Space Strategy.
Emerging Technology
We are investing in emerging technologies with the highest potential to deliver a step-change in capability for NS&D, including, but not limited to, engineering biology, advanced materials and novel power and energy technologies. Our goal is for the UK to be at the cutting-edge of these disruptive technologies as set out in the National Vision for Engineering Biology.
