Surveillance cameras are vital tools for use in national security, but they are often battery powered, power-hungry and run for a long time to capture the right footage.

In this challenge, HMGCC Co-Creation wants to hear from organisations capable of enabling visual surveillance systems to operate with less power – using edge AI. This challenge is based around the idea that edge AI, which deploys AI algorithms directly onto devices, could help intelligently reduce the power needed by enabling use of trigger sensors.

Organisations are being asked to apply if, over a 12-week period, they can develop and demonstrate technology to meet this challenge. HMGCC Co-Creation will provide funding for time, materials, overheads and other indirect expenses.

Key information

Budget per single organisation, up to £60,000
Project duration 12 weeks
Competition opens Monday 28 April 2025
Competition closes Thursday 29 May 2025 at 5:00pm

Context of the challenge

Visual surveillance is a common technique for law enforcement, national security and military organisations. In dynamic operational scenarios, there is rarely the opportunity to use mains power, so battery power is often the method used.

A surveillance system typically comprises a high quality and power-hungry visual camera, a battery and a communication system to stream or send back images to a central location.

Surveillance can be a necessary tool in many types of situations and locations, for example urban or remote places, or in hostile environments.

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.

Evaluation criteria

All proposals, regardless of the application route, will be assessed by the HMGCC Co-Creation team. Proposals will be scored 1–5 on the following criteria:

Scope: Does the proposal fit within the challenge scope, taking into consideration cost and benefit?

Innovation: Is the technical solution credible, will it create new knowledge and IP, or use existing IP?

Deliverables: Will the proposal deliver a full or partial solution, if a partial solution, are there collaborations identified?

Timescale: Will the proposal deliver a minimum viable product within the project duration?

Budget: Are the project finances within the competition scope?

Team: Are the organisation / delivery team credible in this technical area?

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 is part of the NSTIx Co-Creation network, which enables the UK government national security community to collaborate on science, technology and innovation activities and to deliver these in partnership with a more diverse set of contributors for greater shared impact and pace.

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.