Open Call
HMGCC Co-Creation: Smart personal assistant for security researchers
Overview
Can you help us unlock faster, smarter vulnerability insights?
When machinery is procured to support national security and defence it has to be thoroughly checked for security vulnerabilities — and those vulnerabilities need to be understood and addressed. The work depends on highly skilled security researchers who assess vulnerabilities and advise on mitigations. But before the expert analysis can begin, there’s a significant bottleneck: finding, indexing and understanding the vast amount of open-source technical information that exists about complex industrial machinery.
HMGCC Co-Creation are launching this challenge to develop a software tool to Technology Readiness Level 6, that works without an internet connection and can assist a security researcher to index, search and understand vast quantities of data faster, enabling faster decision making.
HMGCC Co-Creation will provide funding for time, materials, overheads and other indirect expenses for successful applicants.
Technology themes
Artificial intelligence, app development, cybersecurity, data science and engineering, information technology, machine learning, software development, threat modelling, vulnerability research.
Key information
Total budget (ex VAT), up to: £60,000
Project duration: 12 weeks
Competition opens: Monday 16 March 2026
Competition closes: Thursday 7 May 2026
Context of the challenge
National security organisations undertake sensitive activities but also depend on complex supply chains to acquire and maintain the technology they need to operate. As part of that, security researchers carry out detailed tear-downs examining software, hardware and data components to identify possible vulnerabilities.
The first stage of this process is research. When a security researcher is tasked to examine a new product, particularly in the context of industrial control systems, they need to draw on open-source information at a micro-component level, such as technical specifications, datasheets, schematics and technical forum discussions. It is laborious and takes time that could be better spent on the analysis itself.
This challenge is about changing that. We believe that human-machine teaming offers a real opportunity to reduce the research burden. Specifically, we are looking for a system that can do three things:
- Index both structured and unstructured technical information about a product and its components.
- Generate a clear technical summary of the product and its individual components.
- Allow the researcher to ask natural-language questions about the product and explore the information interactively, adapting their line of investigation as new information emerges.
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
Briefing Call
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 7 May 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.
