HMGCC Co-Creation Challenge: Sandpit event to explore wearable technologies

HMGCC are looking for experts to take part in a two-day interactive sandpit event focused on discreet wearable technologies for use in national security and defence.

The challenge examines the latest research into the wearing of inconspicuous technology – looking at factors such as materials, fabrics, clothing design or other solutions. These wearable devices should be comfortable, flexible and able to help the wearer move freely without interrupting the technology itself.

HMGCC Co-Creation is looking for applicants from relevant industries which could be as broad as fashion and theatre, electronics, mechanical engineering, materials, behavioural science, user centric design – among others.

To be considered, applicants must complete an application form and send in a CV – find out more in the ‘Sandpit – how to apply’ section below.

HMGCC Co-Creation will provide funding for time, materials, overheads and other indirect expenses for successful projects. Attendance at the sandpit does not guarantee ongoing HMGCC Co-Creation funding following this period though.

Technology themes

This challenge has the potential to touch on key areas of technology including:

• Behavioural and social sciences
• Electronic engineering
• Energy storage
• Engineering design consultancy
• Healthcare manufacturing
• Materials science
• Engineering
• Systems engineering
• Wearable technologies

Budget: Up to £200,000 (exc. VAT)
Competition opens – application to attend sandpit: Monday 1 December 2025
Competition closes – application to attend sandpit: Thursday 15 January 2026
Sandpit event: Tuesday 10 February 2026 to Wednesday 11 February 2026 in Milton Keynes
Target project kick-off for successful proposals: March 2026
Project duration: 12 weeks

Context of the challenge

Wearable technology for the consumer has shown large market growth in recent years, largely dominated by smart watches. There has also been significant investment in next generation wearables, where cabling, energy storage and useable devices are further embedded into garments, enabling greater useability while also increased ergonomics and comfort.

As there is a potential consumer market in fields such as sportswear and the medical sector, there is also a specialised national security and defence market, utilising similar underpinning technology but where different capabilities may be required.

The gap

There are numerous academics and companies developing new technologies in the consumer market for wearable technologies.

The latest developments in this area seem to show a drive away from ‘hard’ electronics, for example printed circuit boards, insulated wiring and batteries, towards more fabric-like materials.

But there have been limited commercial successes in this field to create truly fabric-like materials and electronics deeply embedded into clothing.

The focus of this sandpit to drive diverse expertise to create the next generation of wearable technology not only for national security and defence but to also maximise chances of commercial viability.

Example use cases

Below are examples which may be explored during the sandpit.

Case one
Bavin has an enhanced sensor surveillance system which uses AI to spot suspicious behaviour in a crowd. But he needs to test it out in a training scenario before deployment.

Lizzy is managing this training exercise, which is focused on how to identify people in busy gatherings. She aims to keep this as realistic as possible, but also wants to test the limits on how surveillance could be avoided. She knows that a person could be identified by the way they walk and move (otherwise known as their gait).

In this training exercise, Sarah is selected as the individual of interest. When moving as she normally would, she is detected, but her efforts to simply walk in a different way can’t be sustained.

To thoroughly test Bavin’s surveillance system, Sarah uses wearable technology that has actuators embedded into clothing. This forces Sarah to change her gait as a result of the garment altering the way in which it fits, while minimising discomfort and upholding discretion. This result shows that Bavin’s surveillance system can be tricked, meaning further development is required.

Case two
Sergeant Smith is deployed on a live operation with the latest wearable technology, designed to increase situational awareness and enhance decision making. There is a range of technology embedded, such as a GPS tracker, so command can pinpoint his location. He also receives alerts sent to body-worn systems.

As Sgt. Smith moves through a building he is getting live updates from command. As discretion is of the upmost importance ensuring the enemy is not alerted of his presence, communication is limited and only transmitted when absolutely necessary.

As he approaches a position he needs to know to stay put or move on, and in which direction. Via subtle changes to his clothing, he is notified by command what to do next. This ensures he alone is notified with quick and clear decisions so that he can focus on the operation in hand.

These devices are well embedded into the garments ensuring no impact on the comfort of wearing over many hours or even days at a time.

Project scope

Innovative solutions are needed for this challenge, but they need to be products which can be produced in short timeframes. This means that applicants should aim to bring in concepts which are already at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) of 5 -9.

Although this challenge is not in the solution stage, which will be developed at the sandpit, requirements to consider are listed below:

Essential requirements for solution:

• Wearable technology that could change the way a person moves, otherwise known as gait.
• Wearable technology that alerts a user of an event, in a discreet manner.
• Wearable technology must not negatively affect comfort of the wearer.

Desirable:

• Should not give off any emissions, for example make a noise or a detectable radio-frequency emission.
• Technology should be applicable to parallel sectors, with the potential for commercial viability.

Constraints:

• Must be able to integrate into a garment. This could be a shirt, coat, rucksack, anything wearable.

Not required:

• Vibration motors, otherwise known as haptic, for alerting.
• Horizon scanning only.

About sandpits

What is a sandpit?
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) describe a sandpit as an intensive, inclusive, interactive and creative environment, supporting a diverse group of participants from a range of disciplines and backgrounds.

Why a sandpit and what is the opportunity?
This method recognises the value in enabling collaboration across disciplines which may not usually come together to address the challenges being tackled. The unique opportunity provided by this sandpit will be that attendees will have access to government stakeholders, to drive the research towards real-world scenarios.

How does it work?
The sandpit will be fully facilitated, with stakeholders to assist participants in defining and exploring challenges in this area.

The sandpit process can be broken down into several stages:

• Defining the scope of research and development.
• Cultivating a common language and terminologies amongst people from a diverse range of backgrounds and disciplines.
• Sharing understandings of the challenges, and the expertise brought by the participants to the sandpit, and perspectives from relevant stakeholders.
• Immersing participants in collaborative thinking processes and the sharing of ideas to construct innovative approaches.
• A funding decision on those projects shortly after the sandpit using ‘real-time’ peer review.

Further information

Intellectual Property and Non-Disclosure Agreements: Due to tight timescales there will be no opportunities for all parties to sign an agreed Non-Disclosure Agreement. Therefore, we request all participants record any background Intellectual Property prior to the event, and record Intellectual Property generated during the event. All attendees will be expected to be as open-as-possible in collaborative discussions.

Attendance: The sandpit event must be attended in person, in Milton Keynes. It will last for two full days, with the aim to form teams and lightweight proposals by the end. Please note that expenses and attendance at the sandpit event are not funded, however successful project proposals resulting from the sandpit will be funded. Refreshments and catering will be provided during the event.

Pitch day: Following the sandpit event, a further two weeks will be given for teams to formulate formal pitch decks and proposals. Each team will be invited to pitch to HMGCC Co-Creation, over Microsoft Teams, as per normal pitch day process, detailed in the section below ‘Invitation to present’.

Team forming: The concept to the sandpit is to form teams between different individuals and organisations. HMGCC Co-Creation will ask for a single lead who can be contracted with, and then sub-contract to other teams.

Collaboration mindset: HMGCC Co-Creation expect all attendees to come with an open mindset to collaborate. As well as the challenge funding outlined, it is anticipated that this event could help build a community of interest that endures outside of this challenge.

Please submit your application on the HMGCC Co-Creation website.

For any queries please email Co-Creation@dstl.gov.uk and cocreation@hmgcc.gov.uk.

Applicants must submit their CV and a document with further information that provides answers to the below, keeping all content within the word limit. HMGCC Co-Creation reserve the right to stop reading if the word limit is breached.

Applicant details: Contact name, organisation details and registration number.

Area of expertise and track record (250 words max): Describe what you are an expert in along with evidence.

Experience relevant to this challenge (250 words max): Describe how your experience could help develop new technology that fits the challenge scope

Collaboration mindset (250 words max): Please provide an example that demonstrates your collaboration mindset that has led to a beneficial outcome.

Innovation and ideas (250 words max): Describe potential routes of innovation that could solve one or more of the example use cases.

All information you provide as part of your application will be handled in confidence.

Applicants will be assessed on each criteria, with equal weighting against each.

HMGCC Co-Creation will take a portfolio approach to ensure diverse expertise are represented.

Competition opens: Monday 1 December 2025

Online briefing call: Tuesday 9 December 2025 10:00-11:00am. Register for the call here. Please note: Recording or use of AI notetakers is not permitted.

Clarifying questions deadline: Friday 12 December 2025

Clarifying questions published: Tuesday 16 December 2025

Competition closes: Thursday 15 January 2026

Applicants notified: Thursday 22 January 2026

Sandpit event: Tuesday 10 February 2026 to Wednesday 11 February 2026 in Milton Keynes

Pitch day online: Thursday 26 February 2026

Pitch day outcome: Monday 2 March 2026

Commercial onboarding begins*: Friday 6 March 2026

Target project kick-off: March 2026

*Please note, the successful solution provider will be expected to have availability for a one-hour onboarding call on MS Teams on the date specified to begin the onboarding/contractual process. All times refer to GMT

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.

Invitation to present

Post the sandpit event, teams will be invited to a pitch day, hosted online. The proposals will be pitched to the HMGCC Co-Creation team 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.

Clarifying questions

Clarifying questions or general requests for assistance can be submitted directly to Co-Creation@dstl.gov.uk and cocreation@hmgcc.gov.uk before the deadline with the challenge title as the subject. These clarifying questions may be technical,
procedural, or commercial in subject, or anything else where assistance is required. Please note that answered questions will be published to facilitate a fair and open competition.

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 for successful projects. Please note that expenses and attendance at the sandpit event cannot be charged, however successful project proposals resulting from the sandpit will be funded.

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

Any questions (and answers) will be captured and published after the event. The call itself is not recorded and use of AI notetakers is not permitted.

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.