Open Call
HMGCC Co-Creation: Tracking a data footprint
Overview
Can you help us minimise a person’s data footprint?
The latest HMGCC Co-Creation challenge is seeking a mobile app which can help a phone user monitor this data over time.
This opportunity is looking for experts able to develop a mobile app to Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL 5) within 12 weeks.
While some data on phones enable apps to function, other elements are used for tracking, profiling and personalising. This challenge is about working out how this impacts on a person’s digital footprint.
The app should be able to:
- Enable a user to easily monitor their own data footprint exposure over time, enabling them to adjust their behaviour as necessary.
- Provide data to inform the management of aggregated risk to privacy sensitive individuals.
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, cybersecurity, data science and engineering, digital services, information technology, software development.
Key information
HMGCC Co-Creation will be hosting a two-stage competition process.
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. For further information please see How to apply – phase 1.
Phase 2. Following a feedback phase, successful phase 1 applicants will be requested to submit a proposal directly to cocreation@hmgcc.gov.uk. For further information please see How to apply – phase 2.
Total budget (ex VAT), up to: £60,000
Project duration: 12 weeks
Phase 1 Competition opens: Monday 7 September 2026
Phase 1 competition closes: Thursday 24 September 2026
Applicants notified: Monday 5 October 2026
Phase 2 competition opens: Monday 5 October 2026
Phase 2 competition closes: Thursday 15 October 2026
Context of the challenge
When apps are installed on mobile devices, they can typically access certain types of information about a phone and how it is used. Core collection tools used are:
- Advertising IDs – a unique device specific code to track digital advertising.
- Advertising software development kits – code in apps that harvest data.
- Pixels and cookies – code trackers embedded in websites and mobile browsers that follow a user’s behaviour.
- Device fingerprinting – combining technical details to uniquely identify a device without using cookies.
Types of data gathered include:
- Geolocation of the device.
- Device status such as IP address and battery level.
- Behavioural activities, such as which app is being used and for how long.
Although the information is usually anonymised, in practice it can often be linked to email addresses or phone numbers. Coupled with this, companies can sometimes sell or share this data with brokers who may then aggregate, build device-level movement histories, and resell this to advertisers.
For privacy sensitive individuals, such as those working in national security and defence, this creates a direct threat to their identity and 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.
Phase 1 competition opens
Clarifying questions deadline
Clarifying questions published
Phase 1 competition closes
Applicants notified
Phase 2 competition opens
Phase 2 competition closes
Applicants notified
Pitch day in Milton Keynes
Applicants notified
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 24 September 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.
