UK's New Approach To Boost Drone Innovation

A cross-Government team has kick-started a new initiative to try and encourage faster innovation from U.K. firms developing all kinds of uncrewed systems.

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) team has just launched its Early Market Engagement (EME) pilot scheme. This will take the from of a series of collaborative workshops where DASA representatives will work with industry and academia.

The idea is that the meetings, to be held in London, Bristol, and Newcastle next month (November) will share strategic problems faced by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with Industry in the hope that attendees can together identify potential solutions that could rapidly deliver capability.

As per an MoD press release, the initial pilot will concentrate on two critical sub-systems of Uncrewed Systems: "Position, Navigation and Timing in Highly Contested Environments" and "Low-cost, Fast Engines"

For prospective suppliers, participating in the EME workshops will provide an opportunity to understand, engage with and contribute to the challenge areas. Participants from both industry and academia will be welcomed; registration closes on October 31.

• More details are available on the DASA website