A new report published today reveals that companies funded by the
Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) have generated
nearly £1 billion in economic value and created over 1,800 jobs
across the UK.
The independent research,
conducted by Beauhurst,
demonstrates how DASA's support for
innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is delivering
significant benefits for both national security and economic
growth.
The report was announced by the Rt Hon , Secretary of State for Defence
during an address at the London Stock Exchange.
Key findings from the report include:
-
DASA-funded
innovators have generated £972 million in Gross Value Added
(GVA) between 2019 and
2023
-
Companies that received DASA funding
secured an additional £592 million in equity investment
-
1,842 new jobs created by DASA-funded
businesses
-
DASA-funded firms
raised £174 million in 2024 alone
DASA
leverages science and technology expertise from Dstl to fast
track innovative ideas towards impact. The report highlights
DASA's
evolution from simply finding and funding innovation to providing
comprehensive support for the businesses behind the innovations,
helping them grow and scale their technologies.
Innovation collaboration drives success
Anita Friend, Head of DASA said:
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is proud to be a
key enabler for innovation. This Beauhurst report demonstrates
DASA's
real-world impact on UK defence, security and economic growth,
and highlights the importance of DASA's work
Regional Impact
The research also reveals DASA's significant
regional reach, with funded companies spread across the UK,
helping to drive economic growth in all nations and regions.
Many DASA-funded
SMEs are
now actively engaged in both domestic and international markets,
demonstrating the broad scope of support DASAoffers and the
global relevance of UK defence and security innovation.
Success Stories
Several DASA-funded companies
are featured in the report as standout successes, including:
Osler Diagnostics
An Oxford-based clinical diagnostics company which secured a
£73.8m investment deal in 2024, representing 41% of the total
raised that year by DASA-funded innovators.
The company has developed a device to test for a range of disease
biomarkers.
Calyo
A Bristol-based electronics company which develops sensor systems
using ultrasound technology to provide perception and vision
capabilities. Calyo's technology is set to transform the
sensor-enabled mobile robotics industry, exemplifying its
dual-use capabilities with applications in unmanned systems for
the defence sector, as well as assistive tools designed to aid
blind individuals.
Dr Mihai Caleap, Founder & CEO, Calyo said:
DASA's
early support was instrumental in helping us transition from a
promising prototype to a commercially viable technology. Their
backing opened doors to follow-on funding and strategic
partnerships.
Today, Calyo's AI-enabled ultrasound sensing platform addresses
real-world challenges across both defence and civilian sectors –
from delivering redundant perception for autonomous systems to
ensuring operational safety in degraded sensing environments.
Building a safer future
DASA
remains focused on addressing fragmentation in the innovation
system, supporting dual-use technologies, and ensuring business
growth is factored into the development of new defence and
security capabilities.
Anita Friend added:
DASA is
committed to fostering innovation and supporting economic growth
and by seeking and nurturing novel solutions from idea to impact
DASA helps
keep the UK safe and secure, ensuring defence and security
capabilities remain second to none and supporting the
government's commitment to ensure the UK is a leader in defence
innovation.
The full Beauhurst report is available on the DASA website.
