United Kingdom Defense Seeks Disruptive Science and Technology

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is asking the industry to help them identify and develop novel, early-stage research ideas that will have a significant and disruptive impact on the future of defense. The MOD views a disruptive impact as something that radically alters how the MOD currently operates. This impact can be positive (e.g. a new capability becomes available) or negative (e.g. a new type of threat arises). 

The MOD aims to create a pool of novel science and technology ideas and concepts submitted by the industry that will be disruptive. These ideas and concepts may be used as the basis for further research within the MOD’s Defence Science and Technology Futures Program.

The MOD is specifically looking for:

•    Creative ideas, concepts, and technology that have the potential to cause a significant game-changing or disruptive impact on defense.

•    Ideas that are at an early stage of development (equivalent to TRL 1-2).

•    Ideas that have a theoretical basis supported by a reasoned explanation.

•    The development of ideas through research to understand their potential to be disruptive in the future.

•    Development of concepts of how novel ideas might be deployed in the future to become either an opportunity or threat to the defense.

•    Clear demonstration of how the proposed work applies to defense.

For information on how to submit your concept to the MOD to help them identify and develop novel, early-stage research, or for information on other opportunities in the UK defense and security market, please contact PJ Menner at the U.S. Embassy London.