Successful applicants will be eligible for up to £60,000 Innovate UK funding to demonstrate their solution over a 3-month period.

Defence, security and emergency-service operations increasingly depend on reliable PNT (Position, Navigation &amp; Timing) data. Deliberate radio-frequency interference can degrade or deny these services, affecting personnel safety, operational coordination, asset tracking and decision-making. Organisations currently lack a scalable way to detect and map this interference across wide areas in near real time.
Existing approaches include fixed sensors, vehicle-mounted equipment and satellite-based observation. These methods provide valuable information but do not fully meet the operational need. Ground-based coverage is limited to locations where sensors are deployed, while multipath propagation and local environmental effects can reduce confidence in estimated source locations. Deploying a sufficiently dense network of dedicated sensing equipment would also create cost, logistics and maintenance burdens.
Authorised Android smartphones represent a potentially valuable distributed sensing network because they are already carried by personnel and may expose relevant GNSS and radio measurements. The challenge holder does not have the available specialist Android engineering capacity required to develop and validate a solution internally.

Background 

The challenge is to develop and demonstrate a secure, scalable and operationally useful distributed early-warning capability that uses measurements available from authorised Android smartphones to detect possible PNT interference and combine observations across multiple devices.
The solution should estimate the time, location, geographical extent and persistence of an event; determine whether the pattern is consistent with systematic interference rather than an isolated handset or environmental anomaly; and provide confidence-rated alerts and map-based information to authorised operational users.
Applicants are encouraged to propose technology-agnostic approaches. A lightweight Android application connected to a central analytics service is one possible architecture, but alternative solutions that satisfy the operational need are welcome.
The solution may draw on expertise from sectors including mobile software, distributed sensing, telecommunications, geospatial analytics, cybersecurity, anomaly detection and data fusion.
The solution provider will be eligible to apply for up to &pound;60,000 to develop the proposed solution towards meeting this challenge. The funding will cover a 3 month <a>project</a>
At the completion of the funding period, the following outcomes would be desirable.
<ul>
<li>A working prototype or demonstrator comprising the device-side capability, secure data service and analytics.</li>
<li>A defined and repeatable method for identifying putative interference events and calculating confidence.</li>
<li>Evidence from controlled trials, representative datasets or safely simulated scenarios demonstrating detection performance, false-alert behaviour, latency, location or extent estimation and device-resource impact.</li>
<li>A security, privacy and data-governance approach suitable for further assurance.</li>
<li>A scalable system architecture and development roadmap covering wider device support, operational integration and future field validation.</li>
</ul>
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The Challenge 

Any solution proposed must:
<ul>
<li>Detect indicators of unusual PNT and communication frequencies interference using data available from Android based devices.</li>
<li>Combine observations from multiple devices to identify correlated events and reduce false alerts.</li>
<li>Post incident, have the ability to display the event&rsquo;s time, location, extent, persistence and confidence level.</li>
<li>Differentiate likely systematic interference from events such as isolated device faults, local environmental effects or transient anomalies.</li>
<li>Provide timely, actionable alerts and map layers through an interface suitable for users.</li>
<li>Support deployment across a growing number of devices and operational areas without dedicated sensing hardware at every location.</li>
<li>Adopt a 'secure by design' approach.</li>
</ul>

Functional Requirements 

A lightweight Android application connected to a central analytics service is one possible architecture, but alternative solutions that satisfy the operational need are welcome.
The following points should be considered in any solution:
<ul>
<li>Operate on Android smartphones using measurements exposed by standard device GNSS and radio interfaces, without requiring additional handset hardware.</li>
<li>Minimise battery, processing, storage and mobile-data demand so that normal device use is not materially impaired.</li>
<li>Secure data generated both in transit and at rest, with appropriate authentication, access control, auditability and data minimisation.</li>
<li>Manage differences in handset models, operating-system versions, firmware and sensor performance.</li>
<li>Use robust anomaly-detection and data-fusion methods that express uncertainty and support confidence-rated outputs.</li>
<li>Support integration or export through documented interfaces so that alerts and geospatial products can be consumed by authorised operational systems.&nbsp;Ideally interfacing to the challenge holders existing situatiional awareness software products.</li>
<li>Provide a testable route to validation using controlled or safely simulated interference data and agreed performance measures.</li>
</ul>

Technical Requirements 

Any solution must:
<ul>
<li>Function across mixed indoor, outdoor, urban, rural and mobile operating environments, subject to the capabilities of the host device.</li>
<li>Tolerate intermittent connectivity by buffering observations and transmitting them when a secure connection is available.</li>
<li>Operate only on authorised devices and within applicable legal, security, privacy, spectrum and organisational constraints.</li>
<li>Be suitable for phased deployment, beginning with a controlled pilot and progressing towards wider operational use.</li>
</ul>

Operating Conditions

The following would be out of scope:
<ul>
<li>Solutions that depend on deploying a dense network of new, dedicated sensing hardware.</li>
<li>Unauthorised monitoring of personal devices or collection of data beyond that required for the defined operational purpose.</li>
<li>Active interference, transmission, counter-jamming or other functionality that could disrupt radio services.</li>
<li>Proposals limited to a single handset alert with no capability to corroborate observations across a distributed network.</li>
<li>Approaches that cannot provide a credible pathway to secure deployment and operational validation.</li>
</ul>

Out of Scope

Successful applicants will be given an opportunity to pitch to the challenge holder. The winning applicant, as selected by the company, will then be eligible to apply for up to &pound;60,000 Innovate UK grant funding to kickstart the development of the proposed solution through a 3 month project. Selected solutions will be trialled with potential for further adoption if trials are successful.
The benefits package for a successful applicant may also include:
<ul>
<li>Support from Innovate UK Business Connect</li>
<li>Support in the development of a prototype or pilot</li>
<li>Technical support</li>
<li>Invitation to attend or present at Innovate UK Business Connect events</li>
<li>A potential business collaboration</li>
<li>Investor introductions (if investment is required)</li>
</ul>
Support if any Innovate or similar competitions are relevant.

Rewards and Market Opportunity 

<ul>
<li>Challenge launch: 5th October 2026</li>
<li>Deadline for applications: Friday 6th November 2026</li>
<li>Review of applicants: Monday 9th &ndash; Friday 13th November 2026</li>
<li>Selection and notification of finalists: Friday 13th &ndash; Tuesday 17th November 2026</li>
<li>Pitch Day: Wednesday 25th November - Wednesday &nbsp;3rd December</li>
<li>Confirm selected solution provider: By Friday 4th December</li>
<li>Submission to Innovation Funding Service (IFS): December 2026&nbsp;</li>
<li>Project length: 3-months. (Starting by 1st March 2027 and complete no later than 31st May 2027)&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
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Timescales 

Entrants to this competition must be:
<ul>
<li>Established businesses, academic institutions, start-ups, SMEs, or individual entrepreneurs</li>
<li>UK based or have the intention to set up a UK base</li>
</ul>
Your project must:
<ul>
<li>Have a grant funding request up to &pound;60,000 (eligible costs only, see below).</li>
<li>Start 1st March 2027 and complete by 31st May 2027</li>
<li>Carry out its project work in the UK.</li>
<li>Intend to exploit the results from or in the UK.</li>
</ul>
Applications will be assessed on: 
<ul>
<li>Relevance to the defined challenge</li>
<li>Benefit of implementation</li>
<li>Feasibility/economic viability</li>
<li>Innovative nature</li>
<li>Ability to launch in line with expected timescales</li>
<li>Credibility of applicant company</li>
<li>Coherence of the proposed business model</li>
<li>Development potential</li>
<li>Maturity of the solution</li>
<li>Suitability for the intended geographic market</li>
</ul>
If selected through this competition, you will be invited to apply for up to &pound;60,000 grant funding through the Innovation Funding Service (IFS). Applicants will need to upload the following documents to IFS once notified:
<ul>
<li>Project plan</li>
<li>Project costing</li>
<li>Minimal Financial Assistance (and de minimis where applicable) declaration (details can be found <a href="https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/guidance-for-applicants/general-guidance/funding-rules/">here</a>)</li>
</ul>
Minimal Financial Assistance:
Grant funding in this competition is awarded as Minimal Financial assistance (MFA). This allows public bodies to award up to &pound;315,000 to an enterprise in a 3-year rolling financial period. If your application is successful and you are invited to apply for grant funding you will be asked to declare previous funding received by you. This will form part of the financial checks ahead of Innovate UK making a formal grant offer.

Eligibility and Assessment Criteria

Existing background IP associated with a potential solution will remain with Solution Provider(s). Where any new IP generation is envisaged, it will be subject to the mutual IP agreement of the solution provider(s) and challenge holder.
Any commercial deployment of a transferred solution or newly developed solution, through licensing, joint venture, partnership, or direct investment, will be subject to the commercial agreement between the solution provider(s) and challenge holder.
Where necessary, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) may be signed to uphold confidentiality in the engagement between the solution provider(s) and challenge holder. (This would be expected to be after company selection, it is suggested that details of IP be not disclosed, focus on the outcomes of the technology proposed).
Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect do not take any share of IP ownership or enter commercial ventures through the iX programme.

IP and Potential Commercial Route 

The application form for this challenge will require applicants to provide company information and answer 3 questions - Idea Summary, Technology Readiness and Intellectual Property &ndash; each with a limit of 300 words.
Additionally, the following documents must be attached for your application to be considered: 
<ul>
<li>Project plan</li>
<li>Project costings &ndash; only eligible costs will be funded, please read the Innovate UK Costs guidance for further information</li>
</ul>
We recommend that you complete the application form in Google Chrome as other browsers may have compatibility issues. The application form does not need to be completed in one session and can be saved for future edits. Please ensure that you toggle &ldquo;Stage Complete&rdquo; for each section before submission. Note that you will no longer be able to edit your application once you have clicked &ldquo;Submit Idea&rdquo; at the bottom of the Summary page.

Application and Technical Guidance 

By submitting an application to this Innovation Exchange (iX) challenge, you acknowledge and agree that the information you provide will be shared with Innovate UK Business Connect and the challenge holder for the purposes of assessment and selection. All information submitted will be handled in confidence and shared only with those involved in the assessment and selection process under appropriate confidentiality expectations.
Please consider the level of detail you share in your submission to ensure it aligns with your own internal confidentiality or disclosure policies.
A selected panel of assessors will review and score your application. The panel of assessors will meet and agree a consensus score. Successful solutions will be selected by the challenge holder. Success will be based upon total consensus scores, a portfolio approach and capacity within the challenge holder&rsquo;s organisation to carry out the projects.
For more information on how Innovate UK Business Connect handles personal data, please refer to our&nbsp;<a href="https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/privacy-policy/" target="_new">Privacy Policy</a>.

Distributed Smartphone-Based Detection and Mapping of PNT Signal Interference

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Distributed Smartphone-Based Detection and Mapping of PNT Signal Interference