This Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) competition is seeking proposals for innovative technologies for communications, networking and information services, with an emphasis on the challenges that are specific to defence. This competition is part of a phased campaign being run in support of the Dstl Communications and Networks Programme.

The scope includes the development of new physical layers, networking and information layer concepts and protocols, as well as cross-cutting aspects such as inter-layer interactions, network management approaches, and the impact of novel information assurance technologies. We are particularly interested in proposals that address the issues specific to the defence context and hence are less likely to be satisfied by technologies directly lifted from the civil world. Examples of such issues include;

• Denial of communications technologies by highly capable adversaries

• The need to adapt rapidly to changing operational context – including changes in communications capability – without dependence on expert staff

• The need to integrate rapidly into heterogeneous networks and information systems

The Competition

The overall competition will have four phases split across two types. In ‘Discovery’ phases we are looking for innovation where the technology output will reach Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) of 3 or 4 by the end of the 6 month contract. In ‘Development’ phases the technology output will reach further maturation to TRL 6 by the end of the 12 month contract.

This initial stage of the competition will open the first of the ‘Discovery’ phases and will follow the anticipated timetable below. For this phase, the total funding available is £1M (ex VAT), and we expect to fund 8-10 proposals.

Later ‘Development’ phases will allow both for further maturation of Discovery phase activities e.g. to TRL 6 , as well as the introduction of new activities. Further details will be announced in due course.

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