DASA is
tasked to find and fund exploitable innovations to support
UK defence and security quickly and effectively, and
support UK prosperity. The cross-Government organisation
launched in December 2016 under the Strategic Defence and
Security Review.
In the first two years DASA has:
- Run 26 innovation competitions
- Assessed 1,461 proposals from creative companies and
individuals
- Invested £42.1 million in 278 projects
Approximately 40 per cent of proposals are from ‘new
to DASA’
organisations; demonstrating how DASA reaches
out beyond traditional suppliers to find innovative people
with great ideas, products or services. Over 50 per cent of
this funding has gone to small and medium-sized
enterprises.
DASA not
only funds UK innovators, but also helps businesses to grow
and develop, giving them access to networks of expertise
and providing them with technical
support. DASA connects
these businesses to frontline services such as the armed
forces and police, as well as aviation security, transport
security, and counter-terrorism. Such access has allowed
innovations to be tested in real-life situations, rapidly
accelerating the innovation process.
Defence Secretary said:
DASA is a
shining example of how we are responding to the rapid
pace of evolving technology. This excellent organisation
harnesses ingenious innovation ideas from across the
private sector and collaborates widely across academia,
industry and the military.
DASA is
maintaining our military edge over adversaries by driving
revolutionary ideas in Artificial Intelligence,
human-machine teaming and surveillance.
DASA provides
stimulus and support for companies on their innovation
journey. The organisation guides technology from proof of
concept to highly developed products.
DASA brings
together the private sector, academia and government
organisations to co-create pioneering solutions to address
defence and security challenges. They are not confined to
working with science and technology; DASA also
partners with behavioural and social sciences on better
ways of working.
One of the current bodies of work underway
with DASA is a
collaboration with the Australian Government. This is a
themed competition calling for companies to submit ideas on
innovative joining technologies that will accelerate the
integration of advanced materials onto military platforms.
