Three UK Firms Bag Defence Funding

Three U.K Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) have just won extra funding under the Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP).

As per a recent press statement OpenWorks Engineering, High Temperature Material Systems (HTMS) and Mind Foundry will each benefit from up to £500,000 of match-funding to develop their innovative products with a view to eventual supply to U.K. armed forces.

It said each of the three firms "will be collaborating with higher-tier supplier who will engage with the SME and mentor them over the duration of a forthcoming defence project."

OpenWorks Engineering will collaborate with MBDA to provide an integrated counter-UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) system for the British Army. The project aims to deliver a mobile AI detection, tracking and targeting system which can be used at convoy speeds on unimproved roads, produced at an upgraded facility capable of manufacturing systems at 12 times current rates.

Chris Down, Managing Director of OpenWorks Engineering said: “We are proud to be working with DASA to develop the next generation in electro-optic tracking systems and build a fully digital manufacturing facility in the North-East.  This DTEP grant will bring new technology to the defence and security forces of the UK and our allies as well as strengthening the UK’s defence supply chain and industrial base.

"The grant will accelerate the fielding of new counter drone and GBAD systems.  This will have an immediate impact in places like Ukraine as well as having the long-term effect of boosting the UK’s defence industry by increasing capacity in the supply chain for the high-tech equipment needed for the battlefield of the future.”

HTMS produces a lightweight, low-cost material called Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) which can withstand temperatures of up to 1,000°C. CMC has multiple potential applications and the firm will also be partnering with MBDA to develop the product.

Dr. Richard Grainger, CTO and Co-Founder of HTMS said: “Being chosen for a DASA DTEP project is an important moment... This marks a significant milestone in our mission to revolutionise the high temperature composites market for Defence, Aerospace, Clean Transport, and other high performance industries."

Mind Foundry builds AI systems: in defence, its work seeks to use AI processing to analyse and enrich feeds from sensors. With its partner BAE Systems it will create a system to provide a unified operating picture from multiple data inputs and sensor types.

Brian Mullins, Mind Foundry CEO explained: “In multi-domain operations, operators often have to analyse information across different sensor feeds manually. This is a risk, increasing the opportunity for error and the potential to miss vital contact information. Being awarded this DTEP funding, we aim to build capabilities to solve this problem and provide operators with a fuller, more robust tactical picture compilation."

The DTEP programme is delivered through the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), Innovate UK, and ADS. DASA is part of the Ministry of Defence and seeks to find and fund exploitable innovation. Innovate UK is part of U.K. Research and Innovation (UKRI), a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). ADS is the UK trade association advancing leadership in aerospace, defence, security and space.

Head of DASA Anita Friend commented: “We are delighted to announce the distribution of further DTEP funding to three more SMEs. These innovative companies, in partnership with their higher-tier DTEP collaborators, are set to play a crucial role in enhancing the UK’s defence supply chain and supporting the ongoing success of future defence and security initiatives.”

• You can read further details on the DASA website