BACKGROUND

The Research Institute in Verified Trustworthy Software Systems (VeTSS), hosted at Imperial College London and the University of Surrey, is a UK Academic Research Institute in Cyber Security funded by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This VeTSS call is funded by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), for research to be undertaken between 1/9/2025 and 31/8/2026.

ABOUT THE CALL

This call aims to support projects aligned with VeTSS research on topics including, but not limited to, those outlined in the VeTSS Problem Book. Problems not listed in the Problem Book are also eligible for funding, provided that the proposal clearly links the project with VeTSS objectives.

This call is open to projects led by researchers at postdoctoral level or above. Proposals led by early career researchers (ECRs), as well as underrepresented groups and marginalised communities are particularly welcome.

PROPOSALS

VeTSS would like to support excellent proposals that are perhaps more difficult to fund through traditional routes, examples include proposals transferring technology from academia to industry; proposals on ambitious blue-sky research as a step towards more standard funding; and proposals focussing on the development of well-engineered tools rather than cutting-edge research. Finally, VeTSS would also support proposals for bringing talented international PhD students/RAs/academics to spend time with UK research groups, as well as proposals for international workshops to sustain and further improve the UK-based VeTSS community.

The previous calls were highly competitive. Proposals should ideally provide evidence of engagement with the international academic or industrial verification community, or the UK industrial community interested in applying such techniques to industrial practice.

Deadline for nominations: Friday 4th of July, 16:00 GMT
Decisions announced: : Late July / Early August

APPLICATION AND SELECTION

Proposals should be sent to contact@vetss.org.uk by 16:00hrs on Friday, 4 July 2025. Proposals will be assessed by a panel of verification experts from academia, industry and government, who will judge the proposals on quality, viability and significance. Enquiries regarding the application process should be addressed to contact@vetss.org.uk.

Full details for this call and Guidance for proposals can be downloaded from here.