Open Call
HMGCC Co-Creation: Cooling in high power battlefield comms
Overview
Tactical radios which can get too hot when used on the battlefield are at the heart of a new challenge by HMGCC Co-Creation.
The team is inviting applications from all those who could help stop high-bandwidth radios from emitting too much heat.
Why is this heat a problem? These radios play a vital role in battlefield intelligence, but heat can create detectable infrared signals and degrade hardware performance.
HMGCC Co-Creation is looking for innovative solutions to enable high-power radios to run for longer, while keeping heat emissions to a minimum.
The solution should be compact and something that can be retrofitted into existing hardware without creating a piece of tech which is too big or too complex.
This is a 12-week, funded challenge which asks applicants to achieve a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 demonstrator in that time.
HMGCC will provide funding for time and materials, overheads and other indirect expenses for successful applications.
Technology themes
Applied research, communication systems, electronic engineering, manufacturing, material science and engineering, modelling and simulation, mechanical engineering, radio systems, systems engineering.
Key information
Total budget (ex VAT), up to: £60,000
Project duration: 12 weeks
Competition opens: Monday 6 July 2026
Competition closes: Thursday 6 August 2026
Context of the challenge
Signal congestion and adversary jamming are just some of the obstacles operational staff can encounter when trying to manage secure, battlefield communications.
High-power, portable radio systems are all-important to make safe communications possible. These are relied on to securely enable the transfer of tactical data, including streaming high bandwidth information and intelligence back to headquarters.
However, the increased processing power and transmission levels required for this data can generate significant waste heat. If left unmanaged, this heat can degrade equipment performance, reduce hardware lifespan, and creates a thermal signature that can be detected by enemy sensors.
HMGCC Co-Creation is seeking innovative heat dissipation solutions that can be integrated across a diverse range of software defined radio systems, from existing hardware to future platforms, to ensure operational reliability and personnel safety.
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
*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 6 August 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.
