Small devices to track government staff, wherever they are in the world, are sought in HMGCC Co-Creation’s latest challenge.
When satellite systems such as Global Positioning System (GPS) aren’t available, for example in remote or hostile locations, national security needs to use an alternative – as small in size, weight and power (SWaP) as possible.

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

• Budget per single organisation, up to (exc. VAT): £60,000
• Budget per consortium, up to (exc. VAT): £120,000
• Project duration: 12 weeks
• Competition opens: Monday 14 April 2025
• Competition closes: Thursday 15 May 2025 at 5:00pm

Context of the challenge

There are many situations in which global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) may not be possible to use.
These systems can be disrupted by deliberate jamming measures, environmental factors such as weather, or location-based factors such as underground locations, urban canyons or in a mountainous area.

Areas where GNSS is unreliable can pose safety concerns as they make it tougher to keep track of UK government assets and representatives. This challenge is focused on exploring a variety of alternative options for tracking systems without using GNSS.

The gap

When GNSS can’t be used, there are other methods ranging from simple map or astral navigation, to sophisticated inertial chipsets and use of existing infrastructure such as cell towers or non-GNSS satellites. There are trade-offs with each method. HMGCC Co-Creation would like to explore these trade-offs to demonstrate and ultimately develop new capability.

Example use case

Law enforcement has gathered some intelligence about a serious and organised crime-owned facility in a remote, but unknown, location. The first step is to launch a reconnaissance mission to determine its exact location. It is likely that the criminal organisation has robust intruder monitoring and counter-surveillance equipment. It is also likely that the criminal gang is utilising GPS/GNSS jammers.

Jonny is leading the reconnaissance, and he must do this cautiously, without mobile phones or other electronic equipment that gives off radio-frequency (RF) or other signature. Jonny is equipped with a miniaturised tracker. This is extremely small and low-power to ensure it is unobtrusive and does not impede all the other equipment he is carrying.
The tracker is suitable for use in areas where GPS/GNSS or cellular signals are unavailable, relying on other ways to track movement. The tracker does not beacon a live location, fulfilling the requirement to not ping an RF signature.

Once the reconnaissance is finished, Jonny hands over the tracker to Sara. She downloads and then interrogates the data, being able to view exactly where Jonny had gone. This crucial information is fed into the intelligence report to build a picture of the targeted facility.

Project scope

The focus of this 12-week project is to develop and demonstrate technological options for GNSS/GPS denied tracking. The ideal outcome after 12 weeks will be a practical demonstration of a characteristic proof of concept.

This is open to Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) from 3 – 6. It is recommended that applicants should label their existing TRL as well as the level expected by the end of the 12 weeks.

Essential requirements:

• Project related:
o Provide rationale and trade-off analysis of technology used.
o Development of a demonstrable proof of concept.

• End product related:
o Size and power: Miniaturisation and low-power is crucial.
o Must be able to track a movement, at <100m accuracy, with an aspiration of <10m accuracy, without using GPS/GNSS
o Must be able to store data for later interrogation.
o Must enable quick and efficient data interrogation.
o Must not have a loud and/or continuous RF signature.

Not required:
• Project related:
o Only a horizon scan.

• End product related:
o A beacon that shows live location.
o A live navigation tool.

Competition opens: Monday 14 April 2025 

Online briefing link: Tuesday 29 April 2025 at 10:00am 

Clarifying questions published: Tuesday 6 May 2025 

Competition closes: Thursday 15 May 2025 at 5:00pm 

Applicant notified: Tuesday 27 May 2025 

Pitch day in Milton Keynes: Thursday 5 June 2025 

Pitch Day outcome: Monday 9 June 2025 

Commercial onboarding begins: Friday 13 June 2025 at 3:00pm 

Target project kick-off: Monday 7 July 2025 

Eligibility

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?

Invitation to present

Successful applicants will be invited to a pitch day, giving them a chance to meet the HMGCC Co-Creation team and pitch the proposal during a 20-minute presentation, followed by questions.

After the pitch day, a final funding decision will be made. For unsuccessful applicants, feedback will be given in a timely manner.

Applicants can submit applications by sending them directly to cocreation@hmgcc.gov.uk or collaboration@csa.catapult.org.uk 

All information you provide as part of your proposal, whether submitted directly or via Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult, will be handled in confidence.

FAQ

1. Who owns the intellectual property?

As per the HMGCC Co-Creation terms and conditions, project IP shall belong exclusively to the solution provider, granting the Authority a non-exclusive, royalty free licence.

2. Who are the end customers?

National security users include a wide range of different UK government departments which varies from challenge to challenge. This is a modest market and so we would encourage solution providers to consider dual use and commercial exploitation.

3. What funding is eligible?

This is not grant funding, so HMGCC Co-Creation funds all time, materials, overheads and indirect costs.

4. How many projects are funded for each challenge?

On average we fund two solution providers per challenge, but it does come down to the merit and strength of the received proposals.

5. Do you expect to get a full product by the end of the funding?

It changes from challenge to challenge, but it’s unlikely. We typically see this initial funding as a feasibility or prototyping activity.

6. Is there the possibility for follow-on funding beyond project timescale?

Yes it is possible, if the solution delivered by the end of the project is judged by the HMGCC Co-Creation team as feasible, viable and desirable, then phase 2 funding may be made available.

7. Can we collaborate with other organisations to form a consortium?

Yes, in fact this is encouraged, and additional funding may be made available. Please see the maximum budget of the individual challenge.

8. I can’t attend the online briefing event, can I still access this?

If a briefing event is held, which varies challenge to challenge, then yes. Either the recording or the transcript will be made available to view at your leisure after it has been broadcast. This will be made available via the HMGCC Co-Creation
community collaborators.

9. Do we need security clearances to work with HMGCC Co-Creation?

Our preference is work to be conducted at OFFICIAL, we may however, request the project team undertake BPSS checks or equivalent.

10.We think we have already solved this challenge, can we still apply?

That would be welcomed. If your product fits our needs, then we would like to hear about it.

11.Can you explain the Technology Readiness Level (TRL)?

Please see the UKRI definition for further detail.

12.Can I source components from the list of restricted countries, e.g. electronic components?

Yes, that is acceptable under phase 1 – feasibility, as long as it doesn’t break UK government trade restrictions and/or arms embargoes.