MoD launch new £16m innovative defence programme for SMEs

The Ministry of Defence has announced a new £16m programme which will boost small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) defence innovation.  

It is hoped that the funding will help the SMEs to innovate and be a key component in new pioneering defence projects in the future.  

The UK Government said that the launch of the new programme will keep the country at the forefront of defence technology, improving the capabilities of the Armed Forces, maintaining the competitiveness of the UK industry, and growth of potential benefits.  

Applicants for a grant through the Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP) can receive up to 50 per cent of the project’s value, at a maximum of £500,000. Successful applicants' projects that will be granted funding should be looking at supporting the integration of novel technologies, materials and processes into MOD’s supply chains.  

Scotland Minister Iain Stewart said:  "Defence contracts already support thousands of highly-skilled private sector jobs in Scotland and across the UK, and today's announcement is great news for small to medium-sized businesses who want to join the supply chain.  

"Scotland is famed for its innovation in technology and research and I hope to see bids from Scottish companies whose work can really make a big difference in our defence industry."  

Head of the defence and security accelerator, Anita Friend, said: “DTEP has been designed to help SMEs join defence supply chains and offers SMEs and larger suppliers the opportunity to come together to solve defence problems.  

“For an SME, DTEP offers not only funding but also the opportunity to deliver new innovations into the UK defence supply chain and a way to develop and scale up their business. DTEP is also beneficial for larger companies, offering early access to new technologies or processes that they may be able to help commercialise."