National Security Technology and Innovation Exchange Challenge opportunities

Funding challenges to develop effective, user-driven technology at pace in areas that are critical to national security.

Connected Places Catapult is working alongside the National Security Technology and Innovation Exchange (NSTIx) to deliver innovative solutions through a series of co-creation challenges.

NSTIx is a Government-led science, technology and innovation (ST&I) partnership that enables coherent and agile delivery of innovative national security outcomes through a co-ordinated and systematic approach to research and capability development.

Several challenges are open for applications in Autumn 2023.

Track and control remote surveillance assets around the world

Physical technical assets are deployed around the world by United Kingdom national security and law enforcement personnel and international partners. Tracking and control of such equipment is often carried out by cellular or satellite systems, but these are not always reliable in more challenging locations. 

Receive up to £60,000 for developing technology that can monitor and control remote physical infrastructure in challenging environments.

Find out more about the challenge to track and control remote surveillance assets around the world and how to apply.

Transfer Data to Multiple Nodes

National security agencies often deploy sensor nodes that carry out a variety of functions to collect data in uncontrolled environments. With deployment of more cost efficient, low equity sensor node ‘meshes’ there is an opportunity to build intelligence into a system. This challenge is focused on the secure transport of data within the sensor node mesh. 

Receive up to £60,000 for developing or reviewing technology that can enable the sharing of data within a mesh of connected surveillance sensor nodes operating in difficult environments.

Find out more about the challenge to Transfer Data to Multiple Nodes and how to apply.

Intelligent surveillance trigger

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) offer national security organisations the capability to provide surveillance of people of interest from afar. Carrying out this work usually requires two people: one to pilot the UAV and a second to review the live imagery. This challenge aims to reduce human interaction during surveillance, but allowing for operatives to continue to make key decisions when required.

Consortia can receive up to £180,000 to develop technology that can provide an automatic ‘trigger’ for surveillance teams when a person of interest is spotted from a drone.

Find out more about the intelligent surveillance trigger challenge and how to apply.

First published 24 August 2023