Open Call
HMGCC Co-Creation: Antenna-boosting materials sought in latest challenge
Overview
Innovators are being invited to apply for HMGCC Co-Creation’s new challenge, focused on the latest developments in antenna technology.
National security needs antenna technology for communications systems which have to send data securely and discreetly – often when there is a lot of signal congestion.
For this reason, we need antennas to be able to function at many different frequencies, so they can be used reliably, even in busy environments.
To boost antenna performance, we want to hear from experts in materials and antennas, that could develop dielectric materials enabling ultrawideband antennas with frequency agility.
HMGCC Co-Creation will provide funding for time, materials, overheads and other indirect expenses for successful projects.
Technology themes
Antennas, communication systems, electronic engineering, materials science and engineering, radio frequency science and engineering.
Key information
Total budget (ex VAT), up to: £60,000
Project duration: 12 weeks
Competition opens: Monday 15 December 2025
Competition closes: Thursday 29 January 2026
Context of the challenge
Antenna technology is critical for successful communications in national security and defence.
There is always a trade-off between many factors when designing antennas, including footprint available, transmitted bandwidth and energy efficiency. Recent publications have suggested that using novel, solid and uniform materials with frequency dependent dielectric constants could widen the bandwidth of antennas, giving many advantages.
HMGCC Co-Creation is launching this challenge to identify experts in the field who are developing, or could develop, ultrawideband antennas to a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 – technology basic validation in a lab environment.
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.
Competition opens
Clarifying questions deadline
Clarifying questions published
Competition closes
Applicant notified
Pitch day
Pitch day outcome
Commercial onboarding begins*
Target project kick-off
Mid-April 2026
*Please note, the successful solution provider will be expected to have availability for a 1-hour onboarding call via MS Teams on the date and time specified to begin the onboarding/contractual process.
Application process
Applications close 29 January 2026
Please find details on how to apply, as well as more information about the challenge, here.
Supporting documents
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.
