Competition summary: the future of aviation security
Published 8 December 2016
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/accelerator-themed-competition-the-future-of-aviation-security/competition-summary-the-future-of-aviation-security
1. Summary
This Accelerator themed competition seeks new technologies and approaches to improve our ability to detect the widest possible range of explosives, weapons and other threat materials that can be taken on board an aircraft.
As the aviation sector continues to grow, the threat to aviation security continues to evolve. Through this competition we want to help the government, the Civil Aviation Authority and the aviation industry continue to improve airport security processes by staying ahead of evolving threats and maintaining a high level of confidence in threat detection.
We’re seeking new technologies and approaches to enhance threat detection while minimising the inconvenience of undergoing screening and of carrying out that screening. There should be a positive impact on the customer and the operator, and be in line with the government’s priorities to create a safer, more secure and sustainable transport system for all.
This Accelerator competition seeks proposals to the following 2 challenges:
- Screening of people and their hand luggage
- Screening of aviation cargo and hold luggage
This Accelerator themed competition is just one part of the joint Department for Transport and Home Office Future Aviation Security Solutions (FASS) programme. There’ll be other funding opportunities spanning all technology readiness levels (TRLs) that’ll be open to UK-based and international bidders.
By 2021, the FASS programme will invest £25.5 million to develop and exploit technology, capabilities and knowledge to provide a step-change to existing aviation security capabilities. This is an important part of the government’s Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 commitment to double UK spending on aviation security.
2. Total funding
Up to £1 million is available for phase 1 of this competition. We expect to fund a number of projects around £40,000 to £80,000 with research lasting up to 6 months, with phase 1 deliverables completed by the end of October 2017.
Up to another £1 million will be made available for phase 2 of the competition. Only projects funded through phase 1 will be considered on a per-project basis at phase 2.
3. Competition close
This competition closes on Thursday 19 January 2017 at 5pm. Proposals must be submitted to the Accelerator online.