Home Office: areas of research interest · first published 6 June 2019
This document, produced by the Home Office's independent Chief Scientific Adviser and Science Advisory Council in February 2019, lists the research topics the Home Office would like the wider research community — including universities, consultancies and specialist SMEs — to investigate. It is not a procurement notice or a call for tenders; it is a signalling document aimed at shaping research agendas and encouraging collaboration. It covers areas including public safety, modern slavery, migration and borders, homeland security, forensics, extremism, and animal experiments regulation. Small businesses with research or analytical capabilities in these areas can use it as a guide to where the Home Office is likely to commission or co-fund research work. No specific contract values, procurement thresholds, or mandatory supplier requirements are set out.
WHO THIS APPLIES TO
THE ENKII VIEW
For SMEs operating in research, data science, behavioural science, forensic technology, or security technology, this document is a useful map of where Home Office demand is likely to emerge. The explicit invitation to make contact via research@homeoffice.gov.uk is a rare, low-barrier route for small specialist firms to open a relationship with a major government department before formal procurements are launched. However, since this is a 2019 document that has not been updated, SMEs should treat it as indicative background context rather than a live pipeline — newer calls or frameworks may have since been issued.
1. Email research@homeoffice.gov.uk to introduce your firm and ask about upcoming research commissions or collaboration opportunities in your area of expertise.
SMEs with research, data science, or behavioural science capabilities — The document explicitly states 'We welcome collaborative working, and contact can be made through the following e-mail address: research@homeoffice.gov.uk' — this is a direct, named route in.
2. Review the specific technology sub-areas listed (digital forensics, UAV security, CBRNE detection) and align your capability statement or capability brief to the language used in this document before approaching the Home Office or bidding on related frameworks.
SMEs in forensic technology, security detection, or autonomous systems — The document names precise technology gaps (e.g. 'low-cost tools for detecting threat items in bags', 'rapid DNA profile extraction') — matching your offer to this language increases relevance in any subsequent procurement.
3. Position your firm as cross-cutting: the document repeatedly flags behavioural science and data analytics as relevant to every Home Office priority area, making broad-capability SMEs well placed for multi-topic commissions.
SMEs in social research, behavioural science, or data analytics — 'Behavioural science has much to offer to all areas of Home Office work' — framing your offer as horizontally applicable across the listed themes broadens the range of calls you can credibly respond to.
4. Reference Annex A of the 2018 UK Annual Report on Modern Slavery for more detailed research priorities, and monitor Home Office tender portals for commissions in this space.
SMEs already working on modern slavery or supply-chain due diligence — The document signposts more granular priorities in that annex, suggesting active commissioning interest in this area.
5. Check whether a more recent Home Office Areas of Research Interest document has been published (this one dates from February 2019) before investing significant time in aligning to its specific priorities.
All SMEs interested in Home Office research work — The document was first published in June 2019 and has not been updated; research priorities and procurement pipelines may have evolved, particularly post-COVID and post-Brexit.
Every rule below quotes the official document verbatim.
The document covers all Home Office priority areas: crime, policing and fire, migration and borders, countering terrorism and extremism, promoting growth, and transformation. (All researchers and organisations engaging with the Home Office on research)
“science, in its broadest possible interpretation, has a crucial role in all the Home Office's priority areas: crime, policing and fire, migration and borders; countering terrorism and extremism, promoting growth, and transformation.”
The document was produced by the Home Office's independent Chief Scientific Adviser and the Home Office Science Advisory Council to inform UKRI strategy and suggest avenues of investigation. (Wider research community including SMEs)
“It has been produced by the Home Office's independent Chief Scientific Adviser and the Home Office Science Advisory Council both to help inform UKRI strategy and to suggest avenues of investigation to the wider research community.”
The Home Office welcomes collaborative working and can be contacted at research@homeoffice.gov.uk. (Any organisation or individual wishing to engage with Home Office research)
“We welcome collaborative working, and contact can be made through the following e-mail address: research@homeoffice.gov.uk”
Behavioural science is identified as a cross-cutting research interest relevant to all areas of Home Office work. (All Home Office research areas)
“Behavioural science has much to offer to all areas of Home Office work, to improve our knowledge of drivers of certain behaviours, design effective interventions and better understand impacts of our policies.”
Data science and data analytics are identified as growing priorities across virtually every Home Office research area. (All Home Office research areas)
“These include the wide-ranging and growing importance of data science and data analytics.”
Forensic science research interest spans digital forensics, conventional areas (fingerprints, DNA), and improving speed and accuracy of existing approaches. (Forensic science suppliers and researchers)
“Research and development in all forensic science areas: the rapidly expanding digital forensics; "conventional" areas such as fingerprints and DNA; and many other niche areas.”
Autonomous and unmanned systems (including UAVs) are a named area of interest, covering both effective use by police/fire/security services and prevention of criminal use. (Technology suppliers and researchers in the autonomous systems space)
“Preventing criminal, hostile or mischievous use of autonomous and unmanned systems, or attacks of the systems themselves, especially through "security by design".”
Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives (CBRNE) detection technology is a specific research interest, including low-cost tools and novel detection methods. (Security technology suppliers and researchers)
“Low-cost tools for detecting threat items in bags. Novel methods of predicting/detecting explosive manufacture. Fast/high throughput trace detection and body scanners.”
Modern slavery research interests include prevalence, vulnerability factors, supply chain forced labour, and improving outcomes for victims. (Social research and policy organisations)
“Prevalence, location and nature of different types of modern slavery in the UK.”
More detailed research priorities for serious and organised crime are published separately covering April 2018 to March 2021. (Researchers and suppliers focused on serious and organised crime)
“More detailed research priorities for serious and organised crime can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/serious-and-organised-crime-home-office-research-priorities-april-2018-to-march-2021”
This briefing is enkii's interpretation of the official document — the official text always governs.
Source document © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0 via the GOV.UK Content API. enkii tracks every Procurement Policy Note and briefs changes the day they land — see all briefings.