Introduction of New Themed Competition for Toxic Gas Detection
UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) is excited to announce the launch of its latest Themed Competition, titled Rapid Detection of Toxic Gases: Phase 2. This initiative, developed on behalf of the Home Office (HO) and the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), aims to identify and advance innovative technologies capable of quickly detecting toxic gases, thereby providing early warnings in environments frequented by the public.
The competition is aimed at enhancing public safety by facilitating the swift identification of toxic gas releases in both enclosed and semi-enclosed spaces. Such incidents may arise from accidental leaks, equipment malfunctions, or intentional acts, often occurring faster than existing safety protocols can effectively manage.
Structured Submission Process for Innovators
This competition will follow a streamlined 2-stage submission process intended to ease the application burden for participants and evaluators alike. During Stage 1, applicants will be required to present an overview of their innovative concepts and technical methodologies. Those who are successful will receive an invitation to progress to Stage 2, where they will have the opportunity to submit comprehensive proposals. Technical experts from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) will play a key role in evaluating the submissions throughout this process.
Addressing the Challenges of Toxic Gas Releases
The rapid emission of toxic gases in congested public areas poses considerable health, safety, and security risks. Defence and security stakeholders are actively seeking novel technological solutions that can provide timely warnings of hazardous gas concentrations and enable proactive responses before any significant harm occurs.
The current landscape of threats necessitates detection technologies that are robust, reliable, and capable of functioning effectively in dynamic environments while requiring minimal maintenance and exhibiting a low incidence of false alarms. Additionally, there is a growing interest in solutions that can seamlessly integrate with broader intelligent surveillance and facility management systems, while also minimising both false positives and negatives.
Phase 1 of this competition successfully facilitated the development of promising toxic gas detection concepts up to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4. The objective of Phase 2 is to further advance these concepts to a minimum of TRL 6 through the development and demonstration of prototypes.
Criteria for Innovative Proposals
Proposals are sought that can create and demonstrate technologies adept at the rapid detection of multiple toxic gases, ensuring users are alerted to potentially hazardous atmospheric conditions. Applicants should establish that their technology is at least at TRL 4 and outline a credible strategy to reach at least TRL 6 during the course of the project.
The proposed solutions should exhibit the following capabilities:
- Detection of multiple toxic gases.
- Provision of alarms within 30 seconds upon reaching unsafe gas concentration levels.
- Operation requiring minimal human intervention or maintenance.
- Functionality in enclosed and semi-enclosed environments.
- Efficacy in busy locations with active pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
- Appropriate sizing for deployment in public areas.
- Networking capabilities to communicate detection signals to external systems.
- A credible pathway for application in defence and security contexts.
Innovative approaches are particularly encouraged, including alternatives to traditional gas detection methods, while also permitting creative applications of existing technologies.
Engagement and Proposal Submission
To assist innovators, a Slido Questions Service will be available for one week following the competition’s launch, allowing them to pose technical inquiries to the competition team.
For any non-technical questions regarding the competition process, inquiries should be directed to the UKDI Help Centre. It is advisable to thoroughly review the Competition Document before submitting any questions via Slido.
For those possessing innovative capabilities that could enhance the rapid detection of toxic gases and contribute to public safety, proposals should be submitted through the UKDI Online Submission Service by midday on 10 December 2026 (GMT). Successful candidates will be invited to present detailed proposals in Stage 2.