The UK’s Home Office and Department for Transport (DfT) have launched the Future Screening for Aviation and Borders competition in a bid to find new solutions that could enhance security at airports.
The competition is part of a wider Future Aviation Security Solutions (FASS) program, a joint initiative between the Home Office, DfT and the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) to encourage novel solutions that cover all aspects of aviation and border screening including passengers, cargo and hold baggage.
Academics and industry experts with pioneering ideas capable of producing the next generation of aviation and border security are being encouraged to apply for funding through the competition. A funding pot worth £4.5m (US$5.8m) is available over the next two years.
Aviation minister Baroness Vere said, “The UK has some of the most advanced aviation security in the world, and we must continue to make it safer and easier for everyone using airports. We want ambitious and innovative businesses to apply for funding to develop the security technologies of the future.”
The competition builds on the UK government’s commitment in the Aviation Strategy to continually reinforce aviation security standards to ensure the skies remain safer for everyone.
Security minister Ben Wallace added, “The FASS is once again fulfilling its vital role of bringing government, industry and experts together to ensure that the UK continues to be among the best in the world at developing of technologies which keep us ahead of the threats that we all sadly face. This competition will help to protect passengers by helping to keep dangerous and illegal items off our planes, while having the added benefit of improving their travel experience.”
Interested parties are encouraged to submit a proposal through DASA’s website. The competition closes on Monday, July 1, 2019, at midday.
