Innovation Challenge Calls

Throughout 2025 and 2026, Digital Trust CoE is running a series of open, industry-led innovation calls to run cutting-edge collaborative projects with industry and academic partners. The cross-pollination of ideas and resources between academia, industry, and government, enables ideas to move from concept to impact. Shortlisted teams will receive tailored support through our incubation programme, with one winning idea per call moving into funded development.

The innovation calls cover various topics – from payment innovation and tokenisation, to privacy-aware methods and digital wallets. Our mission is to drive innovation in digital trust technologies, with real-world applications in finance, supply chain management, healthcare and more.

Our Second Innovation Challenge is Now Live!

Future Payments Challenge 2

Application window 17 Feb – 15 March 2026

Digitising SME Trade Finance – up to £50,000 funding available

This challenge will address accelerating payment and improving liquidity for SMEs – with a focus on demonstrating economic impact potential across the economy.

We’re seeking innovative solutions that can support a unified, digital ‘procurement-to-pay’ service for SMEs, enabled by future payment technologies that streamline procurement, automate payment verification, accelerate settlement, and provide access to embedded low-cost liquidity products such as trade finance.

Solutions could reduce B2B payments delays impacting SME cashflow, and tackle inefficient trade credit systems. This has a significant impact on the economy – late payments cost SMEs £22k/year and contribute to 50,000 closures annually.

Apply by 15 March 2026 - important details below:

Eligibility

You’re a startup or early-stage SME
Your solution is at Technology Readiness Level 3-4
Available to attend in-person workshops over 2-3 days in Edinburgh (late April – early May)
Able to present a final pitch in late May to a panel of industry experts
You’re committed to advance your solution to TRL 5 through a funded 3-month Development Phase (June – September)
You can demonstrate an economic benefit to Scotland

Challenge 1 is now closed

Simplifying Digital Financial Life

Re-thinking the consumer and business experience at key life events:

This challenge supports solutions that reimagine how identity, documentation, attestation and financial transactions can work together to support people and businesses through life’s most important moments, creating a more connected, transparent, and less complex digital life. Please read the Challenge Statement for further background. The winning team is tackling the following challenges:

How can digital trust technologies be used to create a more unified ecosystem, simplifying and accelerating interactions around financial services and products, especially at significant life events?
How can we ensure these innovations provide people with greater confidence in managing, planning, and protecting their financial futures?

This Challenge is sponsored by Standard Life, who understand the real-world challenges people face through life’s defining transitions – from joyful milestones to difficult moments, buying homes, and building financial futures. Shortlisted teams are gaining direct access to industry expertise, technology and market insights from leaders solving these problems daily.

Enterprise - want to get involved?

If your organisation is interested in contributing expertise, funding, or support – and gaining early access to fresh thinking and transformative ideas – we’d love to collaborate. Please contact us to discuss partnership opportunities.