HMGCC Co-Creation Challenge: Development of Advanced Electromagnetic Sensors
Closing: 18 September 2025
Summary of Challenge
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.
HMGCC Co-Creation will provide funding for time, materials, overheads and other indirect expenses.
Context of 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..
[1] https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/tempest-and-electromagnetic-security
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.
Dates
- Competition opens: Monday 18 August 2025
- Clarifying questions submission deadline: Tuesday 2 September 2025
- Clarifying questions published: Tuesday 9 September 2025
- Competition closes: Thursday 18 September 2025 at 5pm
- Applicant 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
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.
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 co-creation@dstl.gov.uk and 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 he 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
Challenge Documents
