Defence Secretary announces £800M innovation initiative

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has announced that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) will spend £800M on boosting innovation over next ten years.

The innovation is set to build on an agreement with the US Secretary of Defence that was made earlier this year, to deepen the collaboration over innovation.

Working with other national security departments, the MOD hopes to establish new bodies to further advance the work, including the Emerging Technology and Innovation Analysis Cell (ETIAC) to understand the implications of new technologies. There is also a new hub to fast track the search for innovative solutions to their most challenging issues.

Glasgow University is already part of the UK’s national network of Quantum Technology Hubs, offering exciting opportunities in potentially disruptive capabilities, like quantum sensing. Amethyst Research in Glasgow, Helia Photonics in West Lothian and the University of Strathclyde were among the winners at Defence Growth Partnership (DGP) Innovation Challenge.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “As the threats we face grow, it is vital that we harness innovation. By using our rising defence budget to create a new fund backed by £800 million of new investment, we will ensure that we stay ahead of our enemies. I hope and expect Scottish companies will be heavily involved in this initiative”.

The Defence Secretary and the US Secretary of Defence are working together on a combined approach to innovation, from technology and operation concepts, to war games and talent management.

The investments and partnerships will allow ideas to develop and deliver transformative military capabilities of the future.

Last month’s strategic Defence and Security Review set out major new investments which reiterated the UK’s commitment to shipbuilding on the Clyde. Over the next decade, MOD plans to spend around £8Bn on conventional warships for the Royal Navy which will be built in Scotland.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell said: “The UK Government is now committed to building ships in Scotland for years to come and have a £178 billion budget for new defence equipment and support. That is good news for the defence industry in Scotland, and the many thousands of highly-skilled people working for them.”

 

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