UK Defence and Security Accelerator

UK Defence and Security Accelerator
Name	UK Defence and Security Accelerator
Formation	2016
Type	Funding body
Headquarters	Bristol
Parent organisation	Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
Region served	United Kingdom

UK Defence and Security Accelerator is a United Kingdom funding and innovation body that seeks to accelerate adoption of novel technologies across defence and security domains. It operates as a competitive accelerator and funding mechanism closely associated with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, collaborating with a wide array of companies, universities, research councils and international partners to move concepts from laboratory to deployment.

Overview

The organisation engages with institutions such as Imperial College London, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Southampton, King's College London, University of Edinburgh, Newcastle University, University of Manchester, University of Bristol, University of Glasgow, Queen Mary University of London, University of Warwick, University of Sheffield, University of Leeds, Cranfield University, University of Birmingham, University of York, University of Exeter, University of Nottingham, Lancaster University, University College London, City, University of London, University of Surrey, University of Plymouth, Royal Holloway, University of London, Heriot-Watt University, Aston University, University of Strathclyde, University of St Andrews, University of Leicester, University of Aberdeen, University of Dundee, University of Bangor, University of Hull, University of Reading, Brunel University London, Goldsmiths, University of London, Birkbeck, University of London, Edge Hill University, St Mary's University, Twickenham, Bath Spa University, University of Buckingham, Roehampton University, University of East Anglia, Swansea University and industry partners including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce Holdings, Thales Group, QinetiQ, Leonardo S.p.A., Airbus, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, Serco Group plc, GKN plc, Cobham plc, MBDA, BAE Systems Surface Ships, Rheinmetall, Saab AB, Nexter Systems, Tata Group, Siemens, IBM, Microsoft', Google, Amazon (company), Vodafone Group, BT Group, Huawei, Canon Inc., Nokia, Ericsson, Samsung, Intel Corporation, ARM Holdings, NVIDIA, AMD, Sony Corporation, NEC Corporation, Hitachi, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, ThyssenKrupp, Bosch, Schneider Electric, Honeywell International Inc., SKF, 3M, DuPont, Dow Chemical Company, BASF, TotalEnergies, Shell plc.

History and Establishment

The accelerator was established in the aftermath of strategic reviews and industrial strategies that involved institutions such as the National Audit Office (United Kingdom), Cabinet Office (UK), Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), House of Commons, House of Lords, National Security Council (United Kingdom), Joint Chiefs of Staff (United Kingdom), Defence Select Committee (House of Commons), UK Research and Innovation, Innovate UK, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Medical Research Council, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, Arts and Humanities Research Council, and drew on precedents like Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, Small Business Innovation Research, European Defence Agency, NATO Science and Technology Organization, Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, Five Eyes cooperation and bilateral initiatives with partners such as United States Department of Defense, French Ministry of Armed Forces, Bundesministerium der Verteidigung (Germany), Royal United Services Institute, Chatham House, Institute for Security Studies, RAND Corporation, Brookings Institution, International Institute for Strategic Studies, and Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Founding phases referenced procurement and acquisition reforms influenced by historical programmes like Skynet 5, Type 45 destroyer programme, F-35 Lightning II program, Eurofighter Typhoon, Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier, Trident (UK) modernization debates, and national innovation policies tied to the Industrial Strategy (United Kingdom).

Mission and Objectives

The accelerator's remit aligns with strategic imperatives promoted by actors including Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Secretary of State for Defence (United Kingdom), Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom), Chief Scientific Adviser (United Kingdom), Defence Innovation Advisory Panel, Armed Forces Covenant, NATO, European Union External Action Service, and multilateral security frameworks. Objectives include rapid concept validation, technology transfer, operational demonstration, and procurement transition leveraging partnerships with National Cyber Security Centre, GCHQ, MI5, MI6, Metropolitan Police Service, London Fire Brigade, National Health Service (England), Portsmouth Naval Base, Crown Prosecution Service, Serco Group plc and emergency services.

Funding Mechanisms and Programmes

Funding streams draw on budgets and mechanisms co-ordinated with Ministry of Defence Police, Defence Infrastructure Organisation, Armed Forces, Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, DASA (historic name), MOD Centre for Defence Enterprise (historical), UK Strategic Command, UK Export Finance, Department for Business and Trade, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Department of Health and Social Care, Home Office (United Kingdom), Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and programmes mirroring models from Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, EUREKA (organisation), Civil Security Fund (EU), European Defence Fund, InvestEU, Structural Funds (EU) and national innovation funds like the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

Programme types include small-scale proof-of-concept awards, demonstrator competitions, innovation partnerships, matched funding calls, and rapid response challenges often structured after schemes such as Small Business Research Initiative and cooperative ventures akin to Joint European Torus collaborative grants. Calls have targeted domains associated with projects like Tempest (aircraft) and Autonomous Warrior experiments.

Selection Process and Evaluation

Selection leverages assessment panels comprised of experts from University of Oxford, Imperial College London, King's College London, University College London, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, NATO Allied Command Transformation, Royal Aeronautical Society, Chartered Management Institute, Institute of Engineering and Technology, Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, Academy of Medical Sciences, Wellcome Trust, Nesta, Innovate UK EDGE, Knowledge Transfer Network, UK Research Office, US Defense Innovation Unit, French Defence Innovation Agency, German Agency for Innovation in the Bundeswehr, NATO Allied Command Operations and procurement officials from Defence Equipment and Support. Evaluation criteria often reference standards and protocols from International Organization for Standardization, European Telecommunications Standards Institute, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, ISO/IEC, and testing regimes analogous to those used in programmes such as Project Tempest.

Notable Projects and Impact

Notable funded projects have included collaborations related to unmanned systems tested alongside Royal Navy (United Kingdom), Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Royal Marines, British Army, and Royal Air Force units, counter-IED initiatives building on experience from operations like the Iraq War, War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), and efforts to counter threats similar to those examined after events like the 2017 Westminster attack, 2013 Woolwich attack, Manchester Arena bombing (2017), and London Bridge attack (2019). Health and biosecurity projects have partnered with Public Health England, Wellcome Trust, NHS England, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and academic centres involved in responses to outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Cybersecurity and resilience work has been connected to National Cyber Security Centre, GCHQ, Microsoft', Google, BT Group, Vodafone Group and research hubs at University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and University College London.

Other impacts include enabling novel sensor suites for platforms influenced by systems like Skynet, Watchkeeper (UAV), Taranis (aircraft) experimental programme, and technologies trialled in exercises such as Joint Warrior, Exercise Trident Juncture, Exercise Saif Sareea and Exercise Falcon Strike.

Governance and Partnerships

Governance structures involve oversight by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, reporting lines into Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), and engagement with parliamentary committees including the Public Accounts Committee (UK), Foreign Affairs Committee (House of Commons), Defence Select Committee (House of Commons). The accelerator forms partnerships with international entities like the United States Department of Defense, French Ministry of Armed Forces, German Bundeswehr, NATO, European Defence Agency, Five Eyes, Quad (strategic dialogue), Commonwealth of Nations partners, and academic consortia including Russell Group (UK), Universities UK, Association of Commonwealth Universities.

Category:Defence research in the United Kingdom