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This is a prototype vision of how a future government service could work. It's not a real service yet, but we're exploring what it could look like. Your feedback will help shape the real service.

Challenges

Government challenges and problem statements seeking innovative solutions from industry and academia

Government Challenges

Government departments are constantly facing complex problems that require innovative solutions. The Challenges section provides a marketplace for departments to publish detailed problem statements, inviting industry, academia, and innovators to propose solutions.

How It Works

  1. Challenge Publication: Government departments identify and publish specific problems or capability gaps
  2. Solution Development: Industry and academic partners review challenges and develop innovative responses
  3. Campaign Proposals: Promising solutions can be developed into kickstarter-style campaigns requiring cross-sector commitment
  4. Collaborative Implementation: Successful campaigns receive the support needed to deliver solutions at scale

Current Active Challenges

Each challenge includes detailed problem statements, success criteria, potential impact, and guidance for solution providers. Browse the challenges below to find opportunities that match your expertise and capabilities.

New Challenge Format

Challenges can now link directly to campaign products

When you develop a solution to a challenge, you can create a kickstarter-style campaign to gather the cross-sector commitment needed for implementation.

Looking to publish a challenge? Contact the Digital Transformation team to discuss your department’s problem statements and how they can be presented to the innovative supplier community.

  1. Secure by Design Up-skilling Challenge

    How do we up-skill UK defence in ‘Secure by Design’ approaches, ensuring a robust pipeline of suitably qualified and experienced personnel?

    • Tags: Defence, security, Training, Skills Development, Cyber Security

  2. Secure Information Sharing Challenge

    How does ‘Secure by Design’ account for unevenly distributed information and knowledge across organisational and disciplinary boundaries?

    • Tags: Defence, security, Information Architecture, Cross-boundary Collaboration, Capability Protection

  3. Early-Stage Security Integration Challenge

    How do we incorporate ‘Secure by Design’ into the very earliest stages of capability acquisition, from concept to requirements?

    • Tags: Defence, security, Systems Engineering, Requirements Engineering, Capability Acquisition

  4. Through-Life Security Support Challenge

    How do we support ‘Secure by Design’ through the entire operational life of defence capabilities, spanning decades of evolution and change?

    • Tags: Defence, security, Lifecycle Management, Continuous Monitoring, Coalition Interoperability

  5. AI-Powered Fish Population Monitoring Challenge

    DEFRA seeks innovative solutions for real-time fish population assessment using satellite imagery, AI analysis, and multi-source data integration to support sustainable fisheries management and marine conservation.

    • Tags: challenges, defra, AI, satellite, marine, conservation, fisheries