The Safety Tech Challenge Fund is a new UK government-funded programme supporting the development of innovative technologies to help keep children safe in online environments.
Innovators and tech experts will be given funding to demonstrate to world’s biggest internet technology firms how they can better design their products and not increase the risk of their platforms being a safe haven for child sexual abusers.
The Fund will award five organisations up to £85,000 each to develop a prototype or proof-of-concept to protect children when using end-to-end encrypted messaging services.
Technology firms from across the world that are innovating to make their platforms safer may be eligible. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to consider collaborative bids, which combine existing specialist expertise from different organisations. These collaborations could, for example, involve:
- Different safety tech companies.
- Safety tech companies and demand-side partners (eg gaming companies or platforms).
- Academic partners or others with insights into the nature of harms.
- Companies in parallel sectors (eg cyber security).
- Any combination of the above.
Launching the Fund, Home Secretary Priti Patel said:
'The technology giants have a responsibility to protect their users online, and must take our children’s safety and security as seriously as they do their bottom line when designing new products.
'This new fund will bring together global experts to show the technology companies how they can responsibly implement end-to-end encryption without putting our children’s safety at greater risk.'
How To Apply
Applications opened to applicants globally from 8 September 2021.
The deadline for applications to be submitted is 6 October 2021 (12:00 BST).
Shortlisted solutions will be invited to an interview in early October. Successful solutions will have five months, from November 2021 to March 2022, to deliver their projects.
Those who have any questions for the project team are asked to fill out the Query Form linked here.
Applications are made online at the programme website.
More details can be accessed here
Useful documents & links
Useful Links
Addresses and contacts
For further information on how to obtain this grant locally, please contact the following:
- Enquiries
Safety Tech Innovation Network