Open Call
HMGCC Co-Creation: Visualising Smart Cities
Overview
Can you help us see inside a smart city? This is the focus of the latest funded challenge launched by HMGCC Co-Creation.
We’re looking for innovators to build a tool that lets security professionals quickly visualise a smart city in 3D — showing where nodes and sensors are located, how they connect, and where the vulnerabilities might be.
Smart cities use thousands of sensors, cameras and connected devices to manage infrastructure and public services. But, to mitigate security risks, better ways are needed to understand where those devices are and how they connect.
HMGCC is looking for software that can take open-source smart city data and display it as an immersive, interactive 3D map — layering in the locations and types of sensors and connected devices across an urban environment. Approaches such as Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR) are welcome, but we would also like to hear about novel methods.
The goal is a Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL 5) demonstrator – technology basic validation in a relevant environment.
HMGCC Co-Creation will provide funding for time, materials, overheads and other indirect expenses for applicants successful in phase 2 of the competition.
Technology themes
App development, business intelligence, communication systems, control software, cybersecurity, data science and engineering, digital services, digital twinning, geospatial science and technology, information technology, modelling and simulation, software development.
Key information
HMGCC Co-Creation will be hosting a two-stage competition process.
1) Phase 1. The objective is to rapidly assess one-page proposals. Those unsuccessful will be informed with feedback. Successful applicants will be invited to phase 2.
2) Phase 2. Following a feedback phase, successful phase 1 applicants will be requested to submit a proposal directly to cocreation@hmgcc.gov.uk.
Total budget (ex VAT), up to: £60,000
Project duration: 12 weeks
Phase 1 Competition opens: Monday 20 July 2026
Phase 1 competition closes: Thursday 13 August 2026
Applicants notified: Monday 24 August 2026
Phase 2 Competition opens: Tuesday 25 August 2026
Phase 2 competition closes: Thursday 10 September 2026
Context of the challenge
A smart city is an urban environment that uses technology, data, and digital connectivity to improve infrastructure, enhance public services, and create a safe and sustainable liveable environment. These sensor rich environments are developed through a complex supply chain of vendors. Understanding more about the way they work can help mitigations be put in place around any potential risks for privacy or information security.
To better understand these threats, HMGCC Co-Creation requires a user-friendly solution that enables us to see an immersive version of any global city.
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.
Phase 1 competition opens
Clarifying questions deadline
Clarifying questions published
Phase 1 competition closes
Applicant notified
Phase 2 competition opens
Phase 2 competition closes
Applicant notified
Pitch day in Milton Keynes
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 13 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.
