Market Opportunities in Defence and Security - Harwell

Overview

The Government has committed to increase spending on Defence & Security to 2.5% of GDP with a drive to attract new capabilities to this marketplace, push the horizons of innovation and enrich the supply chains of the UK’s primary contractors. Looking at two specific sub-markets, Integrated air and missile defence and Counter multi-domain unmanned vehicles and vessels, this event series explores this multi-billion-pound global marketplace and how SMEs and university research programmes can access market penetration support.

About the event

The event will include a briefing from the Regional Defence and Security Cluster network outlining their support offer, alongside an overview of key Innovate UK Business Connect programmes relevant to the defence and security sector. Specifically, the event will highlight best practice on how to engage with the Innovate UK Innovation Exchange platform where these market opportunities are hosted, including the BAE Systems initiative to assist new innovators directly into these marketplaces with the offer of access to software development kits (SDKs), technical assistance and market intelligence. The event will also cover how Innovate UK deploys regional business growth support and how this assistance is made available.

Programme

• 09:15-10:00 Registration
• 10:00-10:10 Welcome from the Chair
  Overview of the event objectives and context.
• 10:10-10:25
  Keynote: Introduction and key messages from the Oxfordshire Buckinghamshire Chilterns Regional Defence and Security Cluster.
  • Ted Evelegh Programme Coordinator, OBC RDSC
  • Alan Brunstrom, Programme Manager, OBC RDSC
• 10:25-10:40
  Engaging the Support for Innovation within the Satellite Applications Catapult
  • Matt Holman, Interim Defence & Security Strategic Account Director, Satellite Applications Catapult
• 10:40-11:10
  Defence and Security Opportunities
  • Bruce McLelland, Emerging Technologies KTM, Innovate UK Business Connect.
    • Innovate UK key D&S programmes and strategy overview.
    • Innovate UK iX Challenge Response Best Practice (top tips)
  • Chris Binnie, Common Software Programme Lead, BAE Systems
  • Finbar O’Keeffe, Head of Technology, BAE Systems
• 11:10-11:30
  Innovate UK Business Growth Regional Small Business support overview.
  • Rocky Moore, Innovation and Growth Specialist, Innovate UK Business Growth
• 11:30-11:40 Open floor for Q&A. Panel session with speakers.
• 11:40-12:00 Networking and Close

Who should attend?

SMEs, university research programmes and research technology organisations (RTOs) that are actively looking to engage (or strengthen engagement) with the Defence and Security marketplace.  Specific technology capabilities would include (but not exhaustive)

• Digital & creative sector agnostic solution developers.
• AR/VR/XR/MR application developers
• visualisation and gamification of complex systems
• data manipulation platform developers
• data analytical platforms/optimisation platforms/sensor analytic platform developers.
• Coding and software houses with base coding for solution application – sector agnostic.
• Practitioners with platforms supporting AI algorithms – sector agnostic
• Control systems and robotic applications (harsh environments)
• space observation data practitioners
• integrated system design
• Cyber Security innovation systems

Please be aware that applications to attend must be submitted using an academic or business email address. Applications using other email domains will not be accepted.

Why you should attend

Innovation and new lines of thinking often manifest when people that wouldn’t normally meet are given the chance to connect. Many of these market opportunities are open to those collaborating and sharing co-created approaches. This event will give you that opportunities to be briefed on what’s being looked for as well as those that could be the partners you need for a robust response.

The event will also give you access to Innovate UK staff that are there to support your innovation journey and navigate the Innovate UK business growth ecosystem.

Further upcoming events in this series

This event is part of a series being deployed in various locations with our Regional Defence and Security Cluster partners. Further events will be added when they become available.

Sheffield City Centre
Monday 14 April 2025, 09:15-12:00. Register interest

Cardiff, Wales
Wednesday 30 April, 10:00-13:00. Register interest (email bruce.mclelland@iukbc.org.uk)

Bristol City Centre
Thursday 1 May, 09:15-12:00. Register interest

Lincoln, East of England
Tuesday 6 May, time tbc. Register interest

Glasgow, Scotland
Wednesday 7 May, 09:15-12:00. Register interest

Yeovilton, SW England
Wednesday 14 May, 10:00-14:00. Register interest (email southwest.rdsc@outlook.com)

Lancashire, NW England
Friday 16 May, 09:15-12:00. Register interest

Middlesbrough, NE England
Wednesday 21 May, 09:15-12:00. Register interest (email enquiries@nerdsc.co.uk)