HMGCC Co-Creation Challenge: Surveillance Challenge Using Edge AI
29 May 2025
Summary of the challenge
Surveillance cameras are vital tools for use in national security, but they are often battery powered, power-hungry and run for a long time to capture the right footage.
In this challenge, HMGCC Co-Creation wants to hear from organisations capable of enabling visual surveillance systems to operate with less power – using edge AI. This challenge is based around the idea that edge AI, which deploys AI algorithms directly onto devices, could help intelligently reduce the power needed by enabling use of trigger sensors.
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.
Context of the challenge
Visual surveillance is a common technique for law enforcement, national security and military organisations. In dynamic operational scenarios, there is rarely the opportunity to use mains power, so battery power is often the method used.
A surveillance system typically comprises a high quality and power-hungry visual camera, a battery and a communication system to stream or send back images to a central location.
Surveillance can be a necessary tool in many types of situations and locations, for example urban or remote places, or in hostile environments.
The gap
One common way of cutting power use in surveillance systems is by using trigger sensors, such as passive infrared (PIR) sensors. Examples are seen in video doorbells. This means the visual sensor, which uses significant power, is only triggered when something needs to be recorded. However, they are prone to being falsely triggered, and effectiveness can reduce in low light conditions.
By incorporating intelligence into a surveillance system, there is an opportunity to use alternative sensors such as audio, radar, low power visual, etc, to only trigger when very specific events occur such as a particular vehicle or person comes into view.
Dates
- Competition opens: Monday 28 April 2025
- Clarifying questions deadline: Tuesday 13 May 2025
- Clarifying questions published: Friday 16 May 2025
- Competition closes: Thursday 29 May 2025 at 5pm
- Applicant notified: Wednesday 11 June 2025
- Pitch day in Milton Keynes: Tuesday 17 June 2025
- Pitch day outcome: Wednesday 18 June 2025
- Commercial onboarding begins: Friday 27 June 2025
- Target project kick-off: 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.
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 and also Co-Creation@dstl.gov.uk, including the challenge title with a note of the community collaborator 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 6 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: details 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
