Welcome to CivTech Round 10!
Applications for CivTech Round 10 are now closed. Please join our mailing list and follow us on social media to be the first to hear about future Challenges.
CivTech Round 10 is launching an exciting and well-funded set of new Challenges, with £7.8 million of contract opportunities aimed at solving some of the difficult problems we face
What we call True Innovation — creating better products and services, and then rolling them out as far and wide as possible — is at the heart of this. Get this right, and there’s economic opportunity too.
Combining these two things creates something really compelling, and CivTech has clear evidence that it’s delivering on both — with huge benefits to public sector organisations and a really high success rate for the companies involved.
The Round 10 Challenges include a wide range of areas: the natural world, the emergency services, the circular economy and core government services. All offer huge opportunity, and some present nothing less than the chance to completely reinvent how we do things.
Especially as there’s something else in play this year.
Unless you’ve been living in a cave these past few years, you know AI has taken a huge leap forward. So, this year we’re launching special WildCard Challenges to explore its possibilities. In truth almost all the products CivTech has developed over the past few years have had AI as part of their tech stack, so with the WildCard Challenges we’re asking how, if advanced AI is applied in really imaginative and innovative ways, could we make major beneficial impacts across a number of vital delivery areas.
In common with all the problems we’re seeking to solve, there’s no prescribed solution to any of the Challenges. Each is an Open Challenge, and we’re looking for truly inventive and ambitious approaches coupled with the kind of knowledge, expertise and knowhow needed to bring the idea to fruition.
Individuals, teams, pre-starts, start-ups, early stage or established SMEs, and large companies are all welcome to apply. Our straightforward and friendly application process levels the playing field and ensures only the best ideas get through.
And because each Challenge normally takes just one solution through to the Accelerator Stage, you won’t be competing with others building similar products. Instead, you’ll find yourself part of a hugely supportive cohort of diverse teams working on Challenges from many areas of government and the wider public sector.
You don’t need a technical background, be an experienced businessperson or an academic to come up with a brilliant solution to our Challenges. We want you to really push the boundaries of what’s possible and give us your most innovative ideas.
All you need is that great idea, and the energy and determination to develop it as effectively as possible — we’ll help you do the rest.
It’s about True Innovation.
It’s about AI for Impact.
It’s about solving a problem and growing your business.
Round 10 key dates
Please note these are subject to change. Find out more about the CivTech process.
30 July to
10 September 2024
Challenge call
The CivTech 10 Challenges will be announced here on the CivTech website and published on Public Contracts Scotland. Proposals must be submitted via Public Contracts Scotland by midday on Tuesday 10 September.
7 to 10 October
Exploration Stage interviews
Shortlisted applicants are invited for a short interview, following which up to three teams per Challenge will be selected and taken forward to the Exploration Stage.
11 to 29 November
Exploration Stage
Selected teams spend three weeks working with their Challenge Sponsors, the CivTech team and other stakeholders to develop and refine their proposals.
29 November
Resubmission deadline
Exploration Stage teams must submit their updated proposals, no later than midday.
4 to 10 December
Accelerator interviews
Exploration Stage teams are invited back for interview, following which the final selection is made for the Accelerator Stage.
20 January to
2 May 2025
Accelerator Stage
The heart of the CivTech Innovation Flow — an intensive 15 week programme of fast-track product development and world-class business workshops. The selected teams and Challenge Sponsors will come together to produce a Minimum Viable Product that proves the approach and is capable of further development.
Date TBC
Demo Day
Our flagship event, where the Teams and Challenge Sponsors show off their hard work, and pitch their products to senior figures from the public, private and third sectors.
26 May 2025 onwards
Pre-Commercial Stage
Towards the end of the Accelerator Stage, the Teams and Challenge Sponsors will have the opportunity to extend their relationship to further develop the solution and roll it out more widely.