Guidance

Open Call Innovation Focus Areas

Updated 19 May 2022

What are innovation focus areas?

Whilst the Open Call welcomes a wide range of innovative ideas to solve problems faced by our defence and security customers, DASA is keen to share insight on specific topics of interest. Innovative solutions for any innovation focus area should be channelled via the Open Call for Innovation.

Each innovation focus area has a unique identifier to help us ensure that your innovation is seen by the appropriate parts of Government. You will be able to choose this identifier when you submit your bid and should use it in all communications with DASA.

Details of past innovation focus areas are listed here.

What should be included in your proposal?

Find out about the Cyber Risk Assessment requirements, the Open Call Competition process and assessment and Open Call Cycle Dates.

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This page will be changed as new innovation focus areas are added, old ones amended or removed, in response to the evolving needs of our defence and security stakeholders. It is therefore recommended that you set up an alert for this page so you are aware of when such changes are made.

Open Call competition category ‘Emerging Innovations’ is currently not available for submission however we are accepting submissions for Security and Defence Rapid Impact and any Innovation Focus Area.

Countering IEDs by Novel Technology and Techniques

Unique Identifier: IFA034

This DASA IFA is seeking proposals that can rapidly accelerate and enhance electronic capabilities which can counter Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). We are looking for novel methods which either use the Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum or provide an understanding of the RF spectrum in order to detect and disrupt the functionality of IEDs.

An important part of countering an IED threat is the detection of devices along with understanding the electromagnetic environment to inform situational awareness, to decide threat from non-threat and to inform the configuration of other countermeasures.

The innovations generated through this call will support a crucial capability for UK military and security users, protecting our service personnel, emergency services and the public using RF techniques to counter IEDs and outpace threat evolution.

An IED is an explosive device fabricated in an improvised manner, but with varying degrees of professionalism. An IED typically comprises of the following component types:

• a power source
• wires
• electronic circuitry
• an explosive initiator
• an explosives charge
• shrapnel products to increase fragmentation
• a trigger mechanism
• various enclosures

The trigger mechanisms used to initiate IEDs are often adapted from commercial products. Examples could include modified Radio Controlled (RC) toys or the use of communication networks. These RF links, and associated components, are considered the primary objective for this call. Other initiation methods could include command wires, timers and victim operated mechanisms, but these are outside the scope of this call unless there is an RF element used in the denial or detection of them.

We are interested in innovative ways to develop and expand the variety of capabilities used for UK Defence and Security. The aim of the IFA is to provide a range of successful solutions that can be developed for front line use. Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) and Electronic Support Measures (ESM) systems need to counter an evolving range of electromagnetic technologies operating across the RF Spectrum, using an ever growing and diverse range of signalling schemes. As possible threat technology types in this area are constantly changing, front line operators need to have a wide variety of options at their disposal to mitigate emerging problems quickly and effectively.

Examples of ECM and ESM use cases include those that:

• can be carried by a service person on long patrols to deliver an immediate effect against IEDs.
• can be attached to a vehicle in a static and/or moving scenario to deliver an immediate effect against unknown IEDs.
• can be used to provide protection at a fixed location while delivering an immediate effect against an unknown IED.
• can provide targeted protection without being co-located with the protected element.
• are suitable for use in an urban, suburban and/or rural context with the associated variety of environmental conditions and spectrum conditions.

Your proposal must meet at least one of the three challenges, but we welcome bids that address more than one.

Challenge 1 - To capture and analyse RF signals using novel spectrum survey techniques, which may include, but is not limited to:

• signal analysis techniques and classification algorithms, which identify and distinguish between multiple technology standards and protocols, while being able to operate across a wide spectrum in real time.
• generating methods or data analysis techniques to provide an understanding of the RF environment, which can be used to inform tactical decisions; for instance, the ability to identify abnormal changes in the environment.

Challenge 2 - Approaches to permanently or temporarily disable commercial communications links and/or the electronics within a Remote Controlled Explosive Device. Examples include techniques that:

• disable communications links to prevent a trigger signal being received. Examples of communication links of interest include those used by push-to-talk radios, wireless doorbells, cellular devices, Wi-Fi and any other readily available communication devices. This may include approaches against the RF signal or the wireless transceivers themselves.
• disable multiple communication types simultaneously across a wide spectrum, preventing devices from switching to alternative RF bearers that they may have access to.
• disable the electronics within a Remote Controlled Explosive Device, preventing its detonation. Examples include RF techniques to affect the operation of microcontrollers or cause permanent damage.

Challenge 3 - New or novel hardware and ancillaries (system components), which may include but is not limited to:

• novel antenna concepts to improve performance and lower the RF and visual signature of the service person or vehicle with respect to the ECM system and its ancillaries.
• advancements in hardware design, such as tuneable filters, efficient ultra-wide band amplifier designs.
• optimisations in size, weight, or power, or efficiency optimisations in wideband RF signal generation technologies (in the order of several GHz).
• novel signal and data processing hardware technologies and techniques, that offer advancements in efficiency, parallelism or dynamic configurability.

We are seeking proposals that:

• show an innovative or a creative approach
• clearly demonstrate how the proposed work applies to the challenges outlined
• have been proven or matured for another application or domain, and need adaptation to develop as a viable counter IED solution
• will demonstrate solutions at a minimum of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 5/6
• are short to medium-term, nominally between 6 to 18 months, with a funding amount between circa £150k and £400k per project
• include a potential delivery roadmap indicating how the technology could be developed over a 2 to 3 year timeframe (beyond the scope of this IFA)

We are not seeking proposals that:

• are an identical resubmission of a previous bid to DASA or MOD without modification
• are off-the-shelf products with no additional innovation/adaptation to the applications mentioned above
• have no long-term prospect of providing a counter IED effect under real world conditions
• simply focus on a discussion of current capability gaps, whether perceived or actual
• offer detailed prediction of effects/benefits that are likely to be seen under a given scenario - this information can be built up over the period of the proposed work

Successful proposals may be exploited and developed further through the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) Future Land Force Protection and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) ECM Capability projects. These projects provide technical support and guidance to personnel in UK Strategic Command, the British Army, and Defence Equipment & Support. There is potential for wider exploitation of options developed within this IFA to support future capability requirements across the MOD and wider government.

Find out more about how to apply

Contact a DASA Innovation Partner if you have an idea but are not sure if it is what we are looking for

Submit a proposal

Human Augmentation

Unique Identifier: IFA033

Human Augmentation (HA) is the use of Science and Technology (S&T) to temporarily or permanently modify human performance. It includes optimisation, enhancement, degradation (reducing the impact of stresses, such as working in extreme climates) and restoration of individuals. HA encompasses a range of technologies, these include exoskeletons, implantables, genetics, brain interfaces, pharmaceuticals, and bioinformatics^{[footnote 1]}. Recent advances in S&T have led to a considerable variety of technologies (at various levels of technical maturity and readiness) that could be considered to directly or indirectly augment the human. As the battlefield becomes more complex, and more advanced technologies become available, the operational demands and technical challenges on our defence and security personnel will increase. If HA technologies can be harnessed safely, legally and ethically to develop enhanced levels of operator (and system) performance it is possible they could afford improvements in military and security capability.

This IFA is seeking proposals which present Generation-After-Next (GAN)^{[footnote 2]} solutions to operational challenges for UK Defence and Security where the human performance is the limiting factor for delivering operational effect. This IFA aims to facilitate the generation of new, innovative or radical approaches that will enable appropriate application of Human Augmentation as a solution to an operational challenge or as a means to achieve a competitive advantage in the defence and security environment.

We are interested in GAN technologies that deliver a competitive advantage to UK Defence and Security by:

• Optimising physical and/or psychological performance
• Enhancing physical and/or psychological performance
• Enabling an individual to work for longer at a desired level (baseline)of performance
• Supporting performance restoration^{[footnote 3]}

Examples of candidate HA technologies include, but are not limited to:

• Wearable assistive devices^{[footnote 4]} (e.g. exoskeletons and technologies to enhance senses)
• Sensory enhancement technologies
• Nutritional supplements
• Pharmacological interventions
• Manipulation of the microbiomes
• Neurotechnologies
• Novel materials
• Implantable devices
• Synthetic biology
• Cross reality
• Robotics
• Artificial Intelligence

This IFA is open for submissions within the DASA Open Call. See Para 9.1. Further cycles may be advertised. This IFA expects proposals to deliver a proof of concept at around Technical Readiness Level (TRL) 3 by the end of their projects. DASA expects to fund proposals to a value around £70K which provide a proof of concept within a 6 month contract.

We are not seeking proposals that:

• Provide existing, commercially available products
• Offer demonstrations of commercial-off-the-shelf products requiring no experimental development (unless applied in a novel way to this IFA)
• Offer no real long-term prospect of integration into defence or security capabilities
• Technologies that are not focussed on GAN
• Provide no improvements or benefits to existing systems

Within the proposal you should consider the following:

• All proposals must consider research ethics, specifically JSP536. For more information, please click here
• An indication of how the technology can be integrated into future defence or security capabilities
• What gaps/challenges there are in the types of technology (or the science that is needed to support them)
• Detail a long-term vision (readiness now, and its future direction) of the technology/ idea and how it can be applied within a system to achieve competitive advantage
• Demonstrate how it will provide the human with advanced capability and/or greater performance reach (focusing on the outcome and what defence or security may achieve through application of the innovation). This must demonstrate an advantage to defence that is attributed to the human component

Exploitation of successful proposals will be leveraged through the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) HA Science and Technology (S&T) project to support a long-term vision for understanding the application of HA technologies in defence and security. There is potential for wider exploitation of options developed within this IFA to support future capability requirements across the MOD and wider government.

Find out more about how to apply

Contact a DASA Innovation Partner if you have an idea but are not sure if it is what we are looking for

Submit a proposal

Double Act: National Security Technologies

Unique Identifier IFA032

Closing date: 14 September 2022

This Innovation Focus Area (IFA) is seeking evolving and state-of-the-art technologies that have the potential for integration into the NSTiX Operational Tech Co-Creation Centre (CCC) research programme. It is run on behalf of the NSTiX Operational Tech CCC, established by the National Security Technology and Innovation Exchange (NSTIx).

The IFA will focus on a specific challenge area (see 2.2) for at least cycle 2 and 3 in FY2022-2023, before closing and moving on to another challenge when necessary. Over the course of the IFA, new challenges will be drawn from the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF) areas of interest which can be found here. The next potential IFA challenge area is highlighted at the end of this document for awareness.

The first challenge area is to mature existing developments, beginning at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4/5 and completing at TRL 6/7. Successful suppliers will be offered the support of the NSTiX Operational Tech CCC who can provide access to a manufacturing facility, including rapid prototyping as well as support with testing and trialling. If you wish to access the Co-Creation Centre during your project, please detail what facilities or support are required in your proposal so it can be considered as Government Furnish Asset (GFX) during the assessment process. Whilst your proposal may include requests for GFX, DASA cannot guarantee its availability and you should include an alternative plan in your proposal.

Challenge area 1 of this IFA is focused on Audio and Visual capture. This includes hardware and software to capture, store, transfer and tag audio, visual and audio/visual evidence.

Proposed solutions need to produce high-quality data and need to process and analyse the natural language contained in the data.

Examples of particular interest include, but are not limited to:

• new durable storage methods utilising ultra-low power with a low bit error
• ultra low power^{[footnote 5]} edge analytics for both audio and visual data
• data analytics for low-resolution images, at scale, on a low bandwidth
• sensor technologies for imagery, i.e. sensors that can operate in low or very low light environment but still generate high-resolution images.

This is not an exhaustive list and we welcome ideas outside the scope of the above examples.

We are seeking proposals that:

• look to pivot technology from one sector to another
• are broadly mature in their development (TRL 4/5) or that require adjustment from the existing sector
• can be developed in approximately 3-6 months, ready for testing & trialling
• seek funding in the region of £75,000, with an upper limit £100,000

We are not seeking:

• literature reviews
• ideas that offer no real long-term prospect of integration into defence and security capabilities
• ideas that offer no real prospect of out-competing existing technological solutions
• demonstrations of off-the-shelf products requiring no experimental development (unless developed and applied in a novel way to the challenge)

There is potential for successful proposals to work within the NSTiX Operational Tech CCC during the contracts. This centre can provide access to a test space that is focussed on technology for non-visible/ covert use. The Co-Creation Centre space also offers an opportunity for successful suppliers to engage with the end users and there is potential for further progression and integration into the NSTiX Operational Tech CCC research programme.

We expect that the next IFA challenge to be released will focus on data analytics and artificial intelligence, such as autonomously processing data captured.

Please note that the additional Testing and Trialling phase of the Security Rapid Impact competition is not applicable to this IFA.

Find out more about how to apply

Contact a DASA Innovation Partner if you have an idea but are not sure if it is what we are looking for

Submit a proposal

Next Generation Wearable Technology

Unique Identifier IFA031

Closing date: 22 June 2022

Technologies that can be used to collect physiological data (both physical and molecular parameters) from individuals in real-time, continue to develop rapidly. Such developments might be in terms of metrics measured, device functionality and/or form factor (site and style of measurement device). Conceptually, there are obvious drivers for the utility of data from such devices in defence capabilities. However, there remain gaps in the evidence base to support what metrics might be reliably measured by wearable technologies and how data from these platforms might be used to improve decision making in a defence context to protect human health and wellbeing.

Dstl has an aspiration to understand what metrics can be collected from wearable technology platforms that are of credible value to the defence user community (i.e. the metrics are sufficiently robust that they can reliably and confidently inform effective and timely decision making). This IFA is therefore seeking propositions that demonstrate novel technology development and/ or data analytics tools that provide information to inform decision making pathways e.g. changes to health and wellbeing that could inform decision making pathways (i.e. as part of a system not a sole diagnostic device) or assist with assessing human performance. Proposals should aim to demonstrate that data from wearable technologies have the potential to provide robust, reliable and actionable insight in either acute (minutes/hours – e.g. to intervene in acute injury) or chronic (days/months) timeframes. Of particular interest to this IFA are technologies targeted towards the development of platforms and/or data analytical tools that provide predictive insight, into the effect of physical, psychological and environmental stressors on individuals.

Environmental stressors of interest will include, but are not limited to, thermal (hot or cold), altitude, infection and acute and chronic stress, relative to participant specific baselines. This could include the development of novel sensor platforms that are capable of accessing novel metrics, development of innovative form factors that improve ergonomics; such as reduced size, weight, comfort and/or development of predictive data tools to better understand how to detect, prevent and treat illnesses caused by a range of occupational and environmental stressors.

This IFA focuses on two key challenges/themes:

1) Demonstration of new sensor technologies and of the data generated from these sensors against existing validated measures (where applicable). This should include proof of concept that measures are relevant to a particular state or condition of interest.

And/or

2) Innovative exploitation of signatures generated from current or novel wearable systems to provide prognostic insights into human health and wellbeing. Importantly, this would utilise human participant data (this does not necessarily need to be from a military population) and must provide key insights for preventative interventions.

Within this IFA, DASA expects to fund proposals within Technical Readiness Level 3 – 6 Technical Readiness Level (TRL) (Rapid Impact Category) up to £200k for a maximum of a 12 month contract (Projects will be funded across multiple Financial Years).

We are seeking proposals that encompass:

1) Developments in wearable technology platforms. This may include innovative form factors or methods for measurement, which permit the measurement of novel biosignatures from individuals (physical and/or biochemical parameters). This may include, but is not limited to:

• Introduction of novel measurements that currently cannot currently be made by wearable technologies. This might include sensors capable of measuring hydration status, a stress marker, cardiac measure or other pertinent metric.
• Improvements in quality, robustness and longevity of measurements that can be made using wearable devices e.g. reliability of data collection, data quality, and resolution and duration of data collection.
• Form factors that enable collection of data in a minimally intrusive format and thus may be more exploitable for defence customers, e.g. alternatives to wrist worn devices to include patches, arm worn or chest worn devices. Proposals in this theme should include provision of evidence to support that the data generated from these sensors is credible and can be used to inform decision making. This could include demonstrable comparability of any measurement made to an existing validated measure where applicable and/or proof of concept that those measures are relevant to a particular human condition.

2) Exploitation of signatures generated from current or novel wearable systems to provide prognostic insights into human health and wellbeing.

• Proposals in this theme could for example focus on experimentation using wearable sensors in combination with data analysis to measure and monitor individuals to provide insight into the effects of environments or situations on those individuals.
• Of particular interest would be physical, psychological and environmental stressors such as heat or cold, altitude, infection and acute and chronic stress, relative to participant specific baselines.
• Where proposed models or computational tools are described, algorithms and all source code must be provided for future validation and verification purposes.

We are not seeking proposals that:

• Do not address the need for ethical review (MODREC). Proposals should include GDPR requirements and must include sufficient time to achieve appropriate approvals (currently c. 5 months.) For more information see here.
• Are literature reviews or literature summaries.
• Provide proof of concept data collection only. Proposals for novel sensors should aim to demonstrate that the measure is comparable to a credible/validated method to measure the same parameter/metric where appropriate.
• Demonstrate proof of concept of data collection only i.e. data architectures and software solutions are not acceptable unless part of a predictive system including the integration of novel data analytical tools.
• Do not provide prognostic information.
• Utilise existing commercially restricted algorithms.
• Do not provide source code and/or details on the models/algorithms developed sufficient for an independent reviewer to verify.
• Provide solutions which are already commercial products unless applied in a novel way to a defence specific human condition to provide new insight.
• Offer no real long-term prospect of integration into defence and security capabilities
• Offer no real prospect of out-competing existing technological solutions.

Proposals should aim to generate evidence that data from wearable technologies is meaningful in decision-making frameworks for monitoring and maintaining human health and wellbeing and offers demonstrable benefit over current solutions. There is potential for wide exploitation of options developed within this IFA to be exploited across defence, with successful projects being scoped for further use. The exploitation of technology will be leveraged through the Dstl Protecting Our People programme.

Find out more about how to apply

Contact a DASA Innovation Partner if you have an idea but are not sure if it is what we are looking for

Submit a proposal

Simulating Future Battlespace Complexity

Unique Identifier IFA024

Current live exercises cannot represent many modern offensive and defensive systems and the anticipated complexity of the battlefield. Using live platforms also places a demand on scarce resources and implies a financial and environmental cost through the use of fuel and other consumables.

We must therefore endeavour to create more effective training environments through the use of simulation and synthetic environments which will enable more frequent training, greater challenge and greater availability. There is a requirement to work with civil partners to pursue technologies and approaches to training within a simulated environment that is compatible with the constraints of our budgets, training facilities and legislation.

We seek novel ideas that can be used by UK Defence to do one, or several, of the below:

• Apply procedures and solutions that provide effective training and evaluation capabilities
• Integration and fusion of data from, and between, distributed training and experimentation systems
• Provide training for operators to perform in complex or high stress environments
• Adoption of Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality into training
• Capture and exploitation of performance information collected during training

All proposals should be created with the aim of enabling faster insertion of new capability and must inform and be informed by wargames and simulations investigating emerging threats.

Find out more about how to apply

Contact a DASA Innovation Partner if you have an idea but are not sure if it is what we are looking for

Submit a proposal

Defence People – Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Unique Identifier IFA023

In the current environment it is increasingly important to ensure we have access to people with the skills, knowledge and experience to exploit information and allow us to adopt cutting edge technologies. This will involve a collaborative approach where we work with other parties, be it other government departments, academia, industry or internationally to ensure we have Suitably Qualified and Experienced Personnel (SQEP) across science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

We are seeking proposals which exploit novel contracts and employment models and consider that individuals may need to learn new skills many times in their careers.

We seek novel ideas which could be used by UK Defence to do one, or several, of the below:

• Attract and retain SQEP with niche specialities and technical skills.
• Tracking and managing important skillsets across the workforce
• Provide technologies/services and other opportunities to improve welfare standards, workforce health and wellbeing
• Provide alternative approaches to contracting or seconding specialist staff
• Identify and collaborate with organisations with experience in the above areas
• Suggest novel approaches to improve the sharing and assimilation of knowledge across organisational boundaries, whilst respecting intellectual properties considerations

All proposals should consider the use of simulation to personalise training, maximise human potential and create realistic operational environments.

Find out more about how to apply

Contact a DASA Innovation Partner if you have an idea but are not sure if it is what we are looking for

Submit a proposal

Operate and Deliver Effects in Contested Domains

Unique Identifier IFA022

UK Armed Forces currently face heavily contested environments across the air, land, sea, and particularly the space and cyber domains, which is of significant threat to the security of our information and could lead to disruption in the use of our space-based capabilities.

Freedom to use our information networks and the electromagnetic spectrum is essential as this is the medium for communication between forces during operations and for our most effective sensors. These mediums can be used by adversaries as a source of information and can also leave us at a tactical disadvantage were they to be disrupted or disabled.

Proposals should consider we need to be robust and resilient and have the ability to disrupt/degrade adversary capabilities. We seek novel ideas which could be used by the UK Armed Forces to do one, or several, of the below:

• Communicate and synchronise activities in contested environments
• Monitor contested environments
• Manufacture methods and design concepts to deliver alternate explosive/electromagnetic/chemical effects and protection from these effects
• Manage fleets of remote or autonomous systems and use these systems to undertake tasks normally completed by human operators

Find out more about how to apply

Contact a DASA Innovation Partner if you have an idea but are not sure if it is what we are looking for

Submit a proposal

Delivering Agile Command and Control

Unique Identifier IFA021

Mission Command is a style of command historically used by the UK Armed Forces to plan and orchestrate operations effectively to achieve desired outcomes. Mission Command is essential to achieving the adaptability required to respond quickly to the complexity in the modern environment, allows delegation and operational awareness across all levels of seniority, and enables personnel to carry out missions with the maximum freedom of action.

In order to achieve a more agile Command and Control process we are looking for proposals which promote a shift from more traditional chains of command to more dynamic, lateral networks, with greater delegation of authority and allow exploitation of relevant information at speed.

We seek novel ideas that could be used by the UK Armed Forces to do one, or several, of the below:

• Technology based data analysis e.g. use of machine learning
• Collaboration between human and technology based decision making processes
• Systems and processes to analyse and visualise real-time data
• Merging in-house and commercially available information services to establish situational awareness

All proposals should be created with the aim of transforming military capabilities to be information centric, which will enable future forces and platforms to be designed around an information architecture to enable widespread access to and sharing of information.

Find out more about how to apply

Contact a DASA Innovation Partner if you have an idea but are not sure if it is what we are looking for

Submit a proposal

Integrate Information and Physical Activity Across all Domains

Unique Identifier IFA020

Our Armed Forces have a requirement to be better integrated: with each other, with other government departments and with new and existing international allies and partners. Integration will enable units to work together harmoniously to deliver winning impact across several domains; sea, land, air, space, and cyber.

Communication capabilities underpin all aspects of modern military operations as they allow multiple operators to coordinate in order to maximise their combined effectiveness. Ultimately, all communications are vulnerable to adversary disruption which introduces significant operational risk.

We are seeking proposals which provide field communication capabilities that are resistant to attack, but continue to perform if degraded and are secure. We seek novel ideas that could be used by the Armed Forces to do one, or several, of the below:

• Manage significant volumes of data from remote or autonomous systems
• Information services that integrate formatted or unformatted data
• Collaborative data sharing internationally with classified information

All proposals should be created with the aim of increasing our ability to orchestrate activity, provide protection to military personnel and their equipment and in doing so, deter hostile action by our adversaries.

Find out more about how to apply

Contact a DASA Innovation Partner if you have an idea but are not sure if it is what we are looking for

Submit a proposal

1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/human-augmentation-the-dawn-of-a-new-paradigm]↩

2. Generation-After-Next definition: A capability that does not presently exist and contributing technology is not fully understood. Concepts will be ‘leap ahead’ and world-leading to challenge the boundaries of current knowledge and emerging understanding↩

3. When the level of performance drops below the baseline, performance restoration concerns returning performance to its baseline.↩

4. Wearable technologies that simply monitor the individual are out of scope, as these technologies are being considered through a different IFA. The analysis of data from wearable technologies is also out of scope.↩

5. ultra low power in these instances is defined as “nanowatts”↩