Open Call
HADeS 2026 Competition
Building on the success of the HADeS (High Assurance Detection Systems) innovation call in 2025 the Department for Transport (DfT) is launching HADeS 2026. Participation in HADeS 2025 is not a pre-requisite for applying to HADeS 2026. The competition aims to enhance UK airports’ checkpoint security screening capability, focusing on alarm resolution and any operating concept that can enhance the performance of checkpoint systems to screen aviation passengers and their cabin baggage.
Application support webinar
On 28 May at 2pm, we will hold an application support webinar to give applicants the opportunity to find out more about the programme offering, challenges, application process, scoring criteria, and the assessment process.
Overview
The HADeS 2026 competition is being issued to attract innovators that can support DfT’s aspiration to ensure that the security checkpoint meets the highest possible threat detection capability, while remaining operationally viable, with funding and programmatic support to develop their solutions.
The main area of interest is cabin baggage screening, including alarm resolution and the screening of oversized baggage, with a focus on technologies that could be commercialised and certified in the future. However, other areas of screening are within scope and this document includes areas of interest for wider solutions for cabin baggage and passenger screening.
The competition is managed by Connected Places Catapult (CPC) for the DfT. CPC will convene stakeholders, manage the competition, assist in the selection process and offer customised business support to the grant recipients. DfT will lead the selection process from the technical perspective and provide technical support to the projects.
For HADeS 2026, the goal is to help DfT to understand whether deployment of new detection standards being developed by the Technology Alignment Group (TAG), and the capability against additional materials that results, for primary screening of cabin baggage and the associated alarm resolution capability is technically feasible and achievable within 3-5 years. Within this, there are three sub-areas in which we see this goal to be achieved, and your application may cover one or more of these sub-areas. These are:
- Threat detection – can all of the required threats be detected? This should reflect an increased range of threat materials which can be detected by cabin baggage screening under the TAG detection standards.
- Interoperability of the primary and alarm resolution equipment. Do they work as a cohesive screening system? For example, how can data which is available from the primary screening system be more effectively used to inform the alarm resolution process.
- Optimisation of the screening system. For example: reducing the number of alarms, increasing ability to screen more complex containers / concealments, reducing operator burden.
While priority will be given to solutions that can screen cabin bags, their contents and items divested into a tray, the DfT are also seeking solutions that can tackle the following scenarios:·
- Passenger Screening
- Hold Baggage
- Cargo Screening.
Solutions are invited at the following maturity levels:
Track 1 – Emerging security innovations (proof of concept)
£40k funding amount
This track focuses on the exploration of whether an idea could work in principle. Applying for this track could involve background research, stakeholder input, early-stage modelling, simple testing or a combination of the above.
Track 2 – Evolving security innovations (pre-demonstrator)
£75k funding amount
This focuses on the building and testing of early-stage prototypes in controlled or simulated environments.
Who should apply?
To apply for the HADeS 2026 competition, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- You must be a business of any size or a university/academic institution.
- Lead organisations must be UK registered.
- If you are applying as a consortium, international partners are welcome, however they can only receive up to 50% of the total grant amount.
- Applications from large organisations will be considered, however a clear rationale is required as to why the proposed idea cannot be funded by internal resources and/or R&D budget.
- If successful, you must be able to begin your project in September 2026 with a maximum of 6 months duration.
- Some travel to meetings and events may be required.
Applications open
Application support webinar
2pm
Drop in session 1
11am
Drop in session 2
11am
Applications close
Interviews
Successful applicants notified
Projects live
Application process
Interested applicants should carefully review all supporting documentation before submitting their application.
Applications close 19 June at 5pm
Supporting documents
Point of contact
If you have any questions about the programme and application, please contact: Alexander Lamle, Innovation and Local Growth Consultant – alex.lamle@cp.catapult.org.uk
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