2017 has thus far seen the usual high tempo of activity for the UK Defence Solutions Centre (UKDSC) as we continue to make progress across our three strategic strands.
Focus on the Customer
The UKDSC Market Intelligence Cell (MIC) launched Phase 3 of its market analysis. Phase 3 will follow a similar methodology to the previous phases. The Phase 3 outputs will complement the earlier work and allow DGP founders, UKDSC Associates and the broader UK value chain to determine market opportunities and interventions. The output is also being used to inform the UKDSC capability development effort.
The UKDSC MIC is located at Cody Technology Park.
Develop Capability
On the 24th January the Centre for Maritime Intelligence Systems (CMIS) team presented to the Innovation Team from Navy Maritime Capability. This presentation outlined an innovation process that included engaging with non-traditional defence suppliers through a Community of Interest, to generate a range of novel future concepts and look at how visualisation could be used as a collaborative tool to undertake early stage concept development. The initial focus area was maritime mine countermeasure techniques, including autonomy, to build upon the recent success of Unmanned Warrior 2016.
Improve Value of Investment
On the 26th January UKDSC attended the launch of the Defence and Security Accelerator (DSA) Enduring Challenge in London. This was an exceptionally well-attended event with Minister for Defence Procurement, Harriett Baldwin MP giving the keynote speech. The UKDSC supported the DSA with our contributions to exportability and exploitation and engaged with a number of SME’s.
On the 1st February Paul Winstanley, UKDSC, supported ‘The Herefordshire Defence and Security Expo’. This was the inaugural event with strong attendance and participation from local representatives across the value chain. Paul delivered a presentation on UKDSC in the Defence section and participated on a panel discussion hosted by Bill Jackson, The High Sheriff of Herefordshire, where other representatives were Brig Anderton-Brown, Commander 11th Signal & West Midlands Brigade and Tracy Buckingham, Defence and Security Organisation at the Department for International Trade.
On 1st February Andrew Cunningham and Emma Watts were invited to judge the F1 in Schools Regional Finals at South Devon University Technical College. F1 in Schools, the Formula 1 supported global STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) challenge, is an education programme that has established itself as one of the premier competitions. It offers students an engaging and exciting learning experience, and a head start on a career path for motorsport and allied engineering industries, such as defence and aerospace. Graduates from Babcock and other representatives from the defence industry joined the judging team and were very impressed by the output from these potential future scientists and engineers.
VIP Visitor to UKDSC
Lord Prior of Brampton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, visited the UKDSC on 15th February. Lord Prior was briefed by the senior leadership team and was also given a tour of the UKDSC to experience how it operated and provided collaborative support to government and companies competing in the global defence market.
UKDSC Supporting the Community
On the 17th February, three team members from UKDSC undertook the UKDSC’s first charity fund raising event. Emma Watts, Samira Braund and Lauren Tarvin advanced purposefully around London following the route of the monopoly board to raise cash for ‘Hope for Tomorrow’ and ‘Dogs for Good’. Visiting 22 properties, 4 stations and managing to avoid a ‘Go to Jail’; they raised just over £1000.
