HMGCC Co-Creation Challenge: Development of advanced electromagnetic sensors

The latest research into advanced radiofrequency (RF) sensing capabilities is being sought in a new challenge launched by HMGCC Co-Creation.

In this 16-week, funded project, applicants are invited to come forward if they have developed lab-based sensor technologies, including quantum sensors, operating in
wide electromagnetic frequency ranges of at least 1MHz to 4GHz. The aim is to develop research to a prototype stage.

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 associated with this challenge.

Technology themes

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

• Antennas
• Electronic engineering
• Manufacturing
• Materials science and engineering
• Photonics
• Quantum technologies
• Radio frequency science and engineering
• Systems engineering

Budget: Up to £250,000 (exc. VAT)
Project duration: 16 weeks
Competition opens: Monday 18 August 2025
Competition closes: Thursday 18 September 2025 at 5pm

Context of the challenge

There are many ways in which national security and defence organisations use technologies such as highly sensitive and precise antennas and electromagnetic (EM) sensors. This can range from electronic security to telecommunications.

There is a potential step change in sensing capability with the emergence of quantum EM sensors and other novel technologies, that could offer better sensitivity, precision, repeatability and ability to tune over classical antenna design. This is both a tool and potential risk.

With these advantages, comes a greater threat protecting against TEMPEST, the passive phenomena of unintended signal emanating from IT equipment which may
give away sensitive data(1).

To help ensure the UK government ‘s understanding of these technologies, HMGCC Co-Creation is launching a challenge on behalf of multiple UK national security and defence organisations to accelerate existing developments to take from proof of concepts in a lab environment to a usable prototype.

The gap

Classical antennas have clearly been highly successful in enabling modern communication and sensing, but there are limitations. This includes the trade-off between the size of the antenna, bandwidth, calibration requirements, inefficient radiating power and directionality.

Advanced sensors, such as quantum Rydberg sensors could overcome these existing limitations. These are typically limited to lab-based set-ups and so HMGCC Co-Creation is looking to invest and collaborate with organisations to develop a statically operated sensor that is field-portable and reliable.

Example use case

UK government carries out a lot of work in protecting against cyber-attacks and data leakage, including adhering to NATO standards in mitigating TEMPEST risk. This typically requires additional shielding of cabling and electronic equipment, reducing the risk of detectable electronic emissions.

Roxanne, an information security officer, is responsible for estates spanning a range of threat environments.

She is testing a new, portable sensor to identify vulnerability in existing IT infrastructure. She takes a number of measurements in a real-world environment, followed by measurements in isolation of other environmental variables. Repeatability of measurements is key.

The new sensor could provide one of two results:

• It could detect electrical emissions from devices that were previously thought to be protected, identifying a vulnerability that must be patched and raising the bar for published standards. This would ensure other organisations are also protected.
• Or, the new device may find no vulnerabilities, showing that current shielding specifications are sufficient and future-proofed against novel attack vectors.

Project scope

Applicants for this 16-week challenge should aim to deliver a demonstration of advanced antennas / EM sensors to the sponsors, alongside a report. This is open to technologies at initial Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) from 3 – 5, with the aim to move technologies to a proof of concept for field trails (TRL 6 – 7).

It is acknowledged that the cost of materials may be significant, so part of the £250,000 budget may be used to purchase specialist equipment, with the remaining spent on development. As part of the proposal, please specify the breakdown of expected materials costs and major lead times.

Essential requirements for solution:

• Ability to detect frequencies in the range of at least 1MHz to 4GHz.
• Non-contact way to detect electromagnetic fields.
• Stand-off detection ranging from a few centimetres up to several metres.

Desirable:

• Compatible with server rack mounting.
• Working towards physically robust unit.
• Considers robustness against electromagnetic pulse attacks.
• Minimise size, weight and power (any future product to be human-portable).

Not required:

• Horizon scanning only.
• Mature technology that is already commercially available.

Competition opens: Monday 18 August 2025

Clarifying questions deadline: Tuesday 2 September 2025

Clarifying questions published: Tuesday 9 September 2025

Competition closes: Thursday 18 September 2025 at 5pm (UK time)

Applicants notified: Friday 3 October 2025

Pitch day in Milton Keynes: Tuesday 14 October 2025

Pitch day outcome: Monday 20 October 2025

Commercial onboarding begins*: Friday 24 October 2025

Target project kick-off: November 2025

*Please note, the successful solution provider will be expected to have availability for a 1-hour onboarding call via MS Teams to begin the onboarding/contractual process.

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.

How we evaluate

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.

Clarifying questions

Clarifying questions or general requests for assistance can be submitted directly to 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.

Routes to apply

HMGCC Co-Creation is working with a multiple and diverse set of community collaborators to broadcast and host challenges. Please follow this link for the full list of community collaborators. If possible, please submit applications via a community collaborator.

If the community collaborator does not host an application route, please send applications directly to cocreation@hmgcc.gov.uk including the challenge title with a note of the collaborator network where this challenge was first viewed.

All information you provide to us as part of your proposal, whether submitted directly or via a collaborator platform, will be handled in confidence.

How to apply

Applications must be no more than six pages or six slides in length. HMGCC Co-Creation reserve the right to stop reading after six pages if this limit is breached.

The page/slide limit excludes title pages, references, personnel CVs and organisational profiles.

There is no prescribed application format, however, please ensure your application includes the following:

Applicant details: Contact name, organisation details and registration number.
Scope: Describe how the project aligns to the challenge scope.
Innovation: Describe the innovation and technology intended to be delivered in the project, along with new IP that will be generated or existing IP that can be used.
Deliverables: Describe the project outcomes and their impacts.
Timescale: Detail how a minimum viable product will be achieved within the project duration.
Budget: Provide project finances against deliverables within the project duration.
Team: Key personnel CVs and expertise, organisational profile if applicable.

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.