Applying for investment

The National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF) offers an innovative opportunity for selected fund managers with the requisite expertise, as well as potential opportunities for their portfolio companies. Applicants selected under the NSSIF programme will be accredited as ‘NSSIF Fund Managers’.

In addition to benefiting from an investment from the British Business Bank’s Enterprise Capital Funds (ECF) programme or British Patient Capital (BPC), NSSIF Fund Managers may benefit from a trusted two way dialogue with NSSIF on technology challenges and market investment opportunities in NSSIF’s areas of interest.

Applications to manage an NSSIF fund investment will be assessed under two separate areas:

1. Eligibility for funding– applicants must be eligible under either the British Business Bank’s Enterprise Capital Funds programme or British Patient Capital.
2. NSSIFaccreditation– this will include evidencing or undergoing security vetting acceptable to UK authorities and demonstrating significant technical credentials in areas identified by HM Government as technology priorities.

As well as fulfilling requirements in these areas, it is expected that applicants selected under the NSSIF programme will follow an investment strategy that contains a significant element focused on HM Government’s National Security Strategic Technology Areas of Interest, in particular investing in dual-use advanced technologies.

The NSSIF guidance document (.pdf, 333kb) should be read in conjunction with the British Business Bank’s ECF Guidance Document or the BPC Request for Proposals, as applicable.

It is expected that applicants selected under the NSSIF programme will follow an investment strategy that contains a significant element focused on HM Government’s National Security Strategic Technology Areas of Interest (.pdf, 118kb).

Prospective applicants are invited to make initial contact with the British Business Bank at [email protected].