Tracking Solution for Alternative Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT)
Summary of the challenge
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.
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.
Dates
- Competition opens: Monday 14 April 2025
- Briefing call: Tuesday 29 April 2025 at 10am
- Clarifying questions published: Tuesday 6 May 2025
- Competition closes: Thursday 15 May 2025
- 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 3pm
- 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.
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
