NSTiX OpTech Co-Creation Centre seeks innovations for audio and visual capture and analysis

  • DASA has launched a new Innovation Focus Area (IFA) called “Double Act: National Security Technologies”
  • The first challenge area of this IFA focuses on state of the art audio and visual capture hardware and software
  • £75,000-£100,000 available for innovative audio and visual capture and analysis technologies

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is pleased to launch a new Innovation Focus Area (IFA) called “Double Act: National Security Technologies. This IFA is run on behalf of the NSTiX Operational Tech Co-Creation Centre (CCC).

Double Act: National Security Technologies comprises of different National security technology challenge areas, which will be introduced over time, all of which seek evolving state-of-the-art technologies that have the potential for integration into the NSTiX Operational Tech CCC research programme.

The first challenge area of this IFA focuses on state of the art audio and visual capture hardware and software.

Key dates and funding

Challenge area 1: Audio and visual capture is open for proposals from the 4th May 2022 to at least 14 September 2022, before closing and moving on to another challenge area when suitable.

DASA expects to award between £75,000 and £100,000 per proposal.

Challenge area 1: Audio and visual capture

In a tech-driven world, it is vital the UK possesses state-of-the-art technologies to address frontline technology challenges, to protect our way of life and promote prosperity.

Challenge area 1 focuses on addressing audio and visual capture hardware and software innovations to capture, store, transfer and tag audio, visual and audio/visual evidence. This is vital to ensure that visual data can be captured and analysed efficiently.

DASA and NSTiX Operational Tech CCC seek proposals that further mature existing developments, beginning at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4/5 and completing at TRL 6/7.

Do you have a solution? Read the full competition document and submit a proposal

Any solutions proposed need to produce high-quality data and need to process and analyse the natural language of the data.

Examples of solutions include:

  • new durable storage methods utilising ultra-low power with a low bit error
  • ultra low power-edge analytics for both audio and visual
  • data analytics on often low resolution images, at volume, 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

There is potential for successful proposals to work within the NSTiX Operational Tech CCC research programme, which offers an opportunity for successful innovators to engage with the end users and there is potential for further progression and integration into the end user’s overall research programme.

Future challenge areas this IFA will address themes identified under the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF) areas of interest which can be found here. Please keep an eye on the IFA page for updates on which challenge area will be the next focus.

Submit a proposal

Do you have a solution or novel approach that may help enhance our audio and visual capturing capabilities? Submit an idea and help DASA and NSTiX Operational Tech CCC accelerate the development of technologies for national security.

Read the full competition document to learn more and submit a proposal.