Commenting on the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, Steve Brittan, CEO of the UKDSC welcomes the positive statements in the review related to the Defence Growth Partnership and the UK Defence Solutions Centre.
“We welcome the Government’s positive announcements in the Strategic Defence and Security Review on Monday, especially those related to the Defence Growth Partnership. The review commits the UK to several key areas that the UKDSC is focused on promoting.
The review emphasizes prosperity, both here in the UK and overseas, recognising that industry has a key role in strengthening our national security. We were delighted to see the announcement of the Prosperity Fund of £1.3 billion that will further connect the UK to new growing markets. We welcome the focus on collaboration, both in forming strong international relationships across the globe and championing an open and rules-based international trading environment, to build sustainable global prosperity. The specific tasking of the Ministry of Defence to support Defence Exports is a significant step, and UKDSC looks forward to working constructively with the MoD to promote opportunities for export growth.
The strategy also focuses on Innovation, acknowledging that it drives the UK’s economic strength and underpins the equipment, capabilities and skills that is vital to our national security. The new Defence and Cyber Innovation Fund worth £165 million is also a welcome development.
We echo the review in recognising that the UK conducts world-class innovation across all the major commercial technology sectors and we are pleased to see the increased collaboration with industry. We look forward to working within the new defence innovation initiative and the defence and security accelerator for government to further remove obstacles to innovation and to help industry and academia to turn ideas into innovative equipment and services faster”
