New competition launched by Defence and Security Accelerator to keep Armed Forces safe and secure.
The Minister for Defence and Procurement, Harriet Baldwin, has launched the Innovation Initiative’s £6M Accelerator Enduring Challenge today, seeking to fast-track the innovative ideas which will keep the UK and its Armed Forces safe and secure.
Cutting edge innovative solutions that the MOD are investing in include ideas like the life-saving device being developed by the University of Strathclyde, to minimise blood loss in severely injured personnel; and 2iC’s state-of-the-art work on secure data exchange between soldiers, vehicles, and bases and between coalition partners and allies.
The government investment is a way of ensuring that the Armed Forces have the most effective and innovative capability available.
Ran by the MOD’s new Defence and Security Accelerator, the Enduring Challenge will fast track the best ideas by providing funding for their development, matching suppliers with expert Innovation Partners, and boosting supplier access to defence.
Opening the competition in London, Minister for Defence Procurement, Harriett Baldwin, said: “The Accelerator Enduring Challenge is another important step in our Innovation Initiative’s aim to transform defence. Backed by a rising defence budget and our £800m Innovation Fund, the Innovation Initiative is transforming Defence’s creative culture.
“We are challenging academics and businesses of all kinds to innovate, cooperate, and build mutual security and prosperity as the UK develops its ambitious Industrial Strategy to ensure an economy that works for everyone.”
Acting Head of the Accelerator, Rob Solly, said: “Through the Enduring Challenge we are hoping to reach out to a wide supply base, which can provide us with innovative ideas that challenge our ways of thinking and operating. We will then work with selected suppliers to support them in their development towards market delivery.”
The competition will run regularly, with up to 12 rounds a year.
Armed Forces Defence and Security Accelerator enduring challenge Innovation Fund Ministry of Defence
Post written by: Abigail Burr
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