Innovators are being invited to apply for HMGCC Co-Creation’s new challenge, focused on the latest developments in antenna technology. National security needs antenna technology for communications systems which have to send data securely and discreetly – often when there is a lot of signal congestion. For this reason, we need antennas to be able to function at many different frequencies, so they can be used reliably, even in busy environments. To boost antenna performance, we want to hear from experts in materials and antennas, that could develop dielectric materials enabling ultrawideband antennas with frequency agility. HMGCC Co-Creation will provide funding for time, materials, overheads and other indirect expenses for successful projects.
Context
Antenna technology is critical for successful communications in national security and defence. There is always a trade-off between many factors when designing antennas, including footprint available, transmitted bandwidth and energy efficiency. Recent publications have suggested that using novel, solid and uniform materials with frequency dependent dielectric constants could widen the bandwidth of antennas, giving many advantages. HMGCC Co-Creation is launching this challenge to identify experts in the field who are developing, or could develop, ultrawideband antennas to a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 – technology basic validation in a lab environment.
Solutions may come from the fields of antennas, communication systems, electronic engineering, materials science and engineering, radio frequency science and engineering.
-
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 CoCreation challenges.
-
Patch antennas are commonly used in devices where low size and weight are key requirements. But there are several limitations to consider:
- There is a trade-off between size and frequency. There is often a narrower bandwidth especially when using materials with a higher dielectric constant.
- As a result, site surveys are often required to tailor antennas to the appropriate frequency.
- Environmental factors, such as body worn antennas, can cause frequency shifting.
- Software defined radios offer wide operational bandwidth, but typically multiple antennas are used for different bands, which result in size, weight and power increases.
-
Harry is deploying a sensor in a remote, contested area, to be left in place for several years, with the aim of detecting and transmitting critical information. It must not be discovered by an adversary.
To ensure reliable communication, Harry works with Suzie, an antenna specialist at HMGCC, to design a bespoke patch antenna that would fit within the sensor’s small footprint.
To ensure maximum efficiency, a site radio-frequency (RF) survey is conducted. But because of the contested area and location, site surveys are not straightforward and can result in significant planning and risk management.
Harry feeds this information back to Suzie, but he also notifies her of a possible future environmental change that could affect the RF situation. With limited time to deployment, they must mitigate against this risk in the engineering design stage.
Suzie has recently taken delivery of new dielectric materials, used to provide ultrawideband frequency for antennas. These have little impact on the size of the antenna, still allowing deployment within the specified space available. A clear benefit of using the materials is they allow remote frequency agility and reduce the likelihood of being intercepted by adversaries.
Suzie rapidly develops this bespoke antenna, tests in an RF range, and delivers it to Harry, ready for integration with the sensor, and further deployment.
-
This challenge focuses on research to discover and develop the next generation of materials used for ultrawideband patch antennas. Due to the low maturity of existing technology, the minimum aim of this 12-week project is Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 – technology basic validation in a lab environment. This will allow an assessment of feasible technology that could be invested in further, or technology roadmaps pivoted if not feasible.
Essential requirements:
- Materials that enhance bandwidth of traditional antenna structures.
- Dielectric material must be a solid.
- Frequencies within the range of 200MHz – 6GHz.
- Demonstrate technical feasibility – either through physical testing or robust computer modelling.
- Material investigated must be viable. For example, must not use extremely rare materials that will likely be cost or process prohibitive.
- Power handling of at least 1W
Desirable requirements:
- If developing new materials, the final milestone should include delivery of a working prototype to HMGCC for assessment purposes.
- The development of multiple material options, which can be narrowed down as the project progresses.
Constraints:
- No fluids in the material.
- No moving parts in the material.
Not required:
- Not full antenna systems.
- Not solely a literature review.
-
- Competition Opens;: 15 December 2025
- Clarification Questions Deadline: 9 January 2026
- Clarification Questions/Answers Published: 16 January 2026
- Competition Closes: 29 January 2026
- Pitch Day(s): 25 February 2026
- Commercial On-boarding: 9 March 2026
- Target Project Kick-off: Mid-April 2026
Challenge responses should either:
- Deliver the challenge over a 12-week period (for example three sets of four-week continuous sprints), or
- Deliver the 12 weeks over a longer period, for example 18-24 weeks, to allow for non-chargeable ‘fallow’ periods between each four-week sprint.
This approach may allow for academic reflection or equipment lead-times, if required. Please make the delivery timescale and approach clear in your proposal.
-
Clarifying questions or general requests for assistance can be submitted directly to cocreation@hmgcc.gov.uk before the question deadline of 9 January 2026, with the challenge title as the subject. These clarifying questions may be technical, procedural, or commercial in subject, or anything else where assistance is required. Please note that answered questions will be published to facilitate a fair and open competition.
For queries, please email Co-Creation@dstl.gov.uk and cocreation@hmgcc.gov.uk.