The latest research into advanced radiofrequency (RF) sensing capabilities is being sought in a new challenge launched by HMGCC Co-Creation.

In this 16-week, funded project, applicants are invited to come forward if they have developed lab-based sensor technologies, including quantum sensors, operating in wide electromagnetic frequency ranges of at least 1MHz to 4GHz. The aim is to develop research to a prototype stage.

HMGCC Co-Creation will provide funding for time, materials, overheads and other indirect expenses.

Technology themes
Antennas, electronic engineering, manufacturing, materials science and engineering, photonics, quantum technologies, radio frequency science and engineering, systems engineering.

Key information

Budget (excluding VAT), up to £250,000
Project duration 16 weeks
Competition opens Monday 18 August
Competition closes Thursday 18 September at 5pm

Context of the challenge

There are many ways in which national security and defence organisations use technologies such as highly sensitive and precise antennas and electromagnetic (EM) sensors. This can range from electronic security to telecommunications.

There is a potential step change in sensing capability with the emergence of quantum EM sensors and other novel technologies, that could offer better sensitivity, precision, repeatability and ability to tune over classical antenna design. This is both a tool and potential risk.

With these advantages, comes a greater threat protecting against TEMPEST, the passive phenomena of unintended signal emanating from IT equipment which may give away sensitive data (1).

To help ensure the UK government ‘s understanding of these technologies, HMGCC Co-Creation is launching a challenge on behalf of multiple UK national security and defence organisations to accelerate existing developments to take from proof of concepts in a lab environment to a usable prototype.

[1] https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/tempest-and-electromagnetic-security

Who should apply?

This challenge is open to sole innovators, industry, academic and research organisations of all types and sizes. There is no requirement for security clearances.
Solution providers or direct collaboration from countries listed by the UK government under trade sanctions and/or arms embargoes, are not eligible for HMGCC Co-Creation challenges.

Evaluation criteria

All proposals, regardless of the application route, will be assessed by the HMGCC Co-Creation team. Proposals will be scored 1–5 on the following criteria:

Scope: Does the proposal fit within the challenge scope, taking into consideration cost and benefit?

Innovation: Is the technical solution credible, will it create new knowledge and IP, or use existing IP?

Deliverables: Will the proposal deliver a full or partial solution, if a partial solution, are there collaborations identified?

Timescale: Will the proposal deliver a minimum viable product within the project duration?

Budget: Are the project finances within the competition scope?

Team: Are the organisation / delivery team credible in this technical area?

HMGCC Co-Creation supporting information

HMGCC works with the national security community, UK government, academia, private sector partners and international allies to bring engineering ingenuity to the national security mission, creating tools and technologies that drive us ahead and help to protect the nation.

HMGCC Co–Creation is a partnership between HMGCC and Dstl (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory), created to deliver a new, bold and innovative way of working with the wider UK science and technology community. We bring together the best in class across industry, academia, and government, to work collaboratively on national security engineering challenges and accelerate innovation. 

HMGCC Co-Creation aims to work collaboratively with the successful solution providers by utilising in-house delivery managers working Agile by default. This process will involve access to HMGCC Co-Creation’s technical expertise and facilities to bring a product to market more effectively than traditional customer supplier relationships.