Development opportunity
The UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Technology and Innovation Centre, is looking among SMEs for ideas for new products.
This follows the success of its Competition of Ideas initiative in 2007, which prompted the Ministry of Defence to open the Centre for Defence Enterprise in May 2008. At the centre innovators, entrepreneurs, academics, plus small, medium or large businesses can discuss ideas that could contribute to any aspect of the UK’s military capability.
Head of the centre Helen Almey said, “We particularly want to work with small and sedium size enterprises, talented individuals and academia to ensure that we are able to equip the armed forces of the future.”
“Anyone can submit a proposal to us, via our website, and we can give feedback on proposals within a couple of weeks. The Centre for Defence Enterprise is the Ministry of Defence’s way of showing a practical commitment to innovation, to improve the capabilities of the armed forces and to UK industry.”
The Competition of Ideas was launched as part of the Defence Technology Strategy in October 2006 and was expanded to form the Centre for Defence Enterprise, which opened in May 2008. Since its inception contracts worth around £1.7 million have been approved, with others under assessment.
Small and Medium size Enterprises, academia and individuals can submit proposals to the Centre for Defence Enterprise. Further information can be found at http://www.science.mod.uk/.
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