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Advance notification of a new competition seeking innovations in technology and approaches to help tackle knife crime DASA is interested in innovative technologies and approaches for the identification of people carrying steel-bladed knives. With a view to, in the longer term, developing deployable solutions to aid the UK Police and security organisations. Total funding of up to £500k is available in Phase 1 of this competition for research projects of up to 6 months in duration. Additional funding is anticipated to be available for future phases of this competition. Queries should be sent to accelerator@dstl.gov.uk

This new Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) competition is seeking novel approaches to stopping or impeding tanks and other heavy armoured vehicles on the battlefield. This Defence and Security Accelerator ( DASA ) competition seeks proposals for novel approaches to stopping or impeding tanks and other heavy armoured vehicles while preventing or minimising collateral damage. We hope to achieve this through harnessing advances in engineering, design, materials science, computing and non-kinetic weapons. We welcome proposals relating to physical barriers or effects (such as traps and rapid ways to build them, or interference with wheels and tracks). We are also interested in invisible barriers or effects such as non-kinetic (non-explosive) weapons which could slow or disable vehicles such as those employing electromagnetic pulse ( EMP ) or sonic based methods. Approaches that disable the target’s ability to fight are also acceptable. We are not interested in any explosive-based solutions such as anti-tank mines or solutions involving direct or indirect fire weapons. The primary focus of this competition is defence, but we are also interested in technologies that have wider security applications. Technologies that address a similar capability requirement within the civil sector, such as preventing vehicle-related terrorist attacks, will be considered if they are demonstrated to be effective against military class vehicles and capable of being deployed in a wide range of operational environments related to defence. DASA are interested in proof-of-concept technologies in Phase 1 of this competition with the aim of using subsequent phases to further develop the technologies and integrate them into deployable solutions. In the longer term, potential solutions should be capable of being scaled-up for deployment over large battlefield areas, be passive and be autonomous or semi-autonomous. Total funding of up to £1 million is available in Phase 1 of this competition from which we anticipate funding around 10 projects. Additional funding is anticipated to be available for future phases of this competition. Queries should be sent to accelerator@dstl.gov.uk .

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) will be running a dial-in event to discuss the Metasurfaces competition DASA will be hosting a dial-in event on 6th September 2018, 10am to midday to provide a short briefing on the Metasurfaces competition followed by an open forum Q&A session. Also available will be the opportunity to book a one to one telecon meeting with the competition team to discuss questions specific to your proposal. Further information about the competition can be found in the Metasurfaces competition document , where you will find links to register for the dial-in and one to one meetings.

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is launching a new competition focusing on the contested electromagnetic environment. We are looking for ideas from the private sector and academia to help solve how UK Defence could take a radically different approach to conducting operations across or within the increasingly congested and contested electromagnetic environment. This themed competition is focused on ideas on radio and microwave bands, offering £1 million available in Phase 1 with additional funding available for future phases. This competition supports the Contested Electromagnetic Environment Programme with Dstl to develop new concepts in the electromagnetic environment to ensure the UK is prepared for future opportunities and threats. Innovative approaches are needed to ensure our Armed Forces and Security Services aren’t disadvantaged as the electromagnetic environment becomes more cluttered and challenging; for example, with radio wave interference. The known reliance of many military systems on the this spectrum makes it an attractive target for our adversaries. This competition is now open. The competition document is available on the DASA website . If you have any queries on this competition, please do contact us ( accelerator@dstl.gov.uk ) or sign up for alerts on our news pages.

Details of our past themed competitions. You can submit a Defence and Security Accelerator proposal either to our Open Call for Innovation or in response to the technical challenges in a specific themed competition. You can submit your themed competition proposal online once the full detailed competition document is published. Summary competition documents may be published a few weeks in advance of full competition document releases. For a list of all open competitions, please see here.

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Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) Industry engagement Industry Engagement Calendar

Advanced cryptographic schemes and High-Assurance high-speed cryptographic implementations

ELEVATE: European League of Advanced Digital Skills Academies

Supporting post-conflict democracy and reconstruction

The Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP) is a £16 million programme to boost small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) defence innovation The Defence Technology Exploitation Programme will help keep the UK at the forefront of defence technology Joining innovations and up to 50% of government funding with large suppliers Grants of up to £500,000 available per project A £16 million programme to boost small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) defence innovation has been launched today. With the innovation of SMEs, the resources of big suppliers and initial funding from government, the Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP) is designed to bring the key components together to allow pioneering projects to flourish. The aim is to keep the United Kingdom at the forefront of defence technology, improving the capabilities available to our Armed Forces, the competitiveness of UK industry and growing potential exports benefits. Individual grants of up to 50% of a project’s value – to a maximum of £500,000 per grant - will be available through DTEP for collaborative projects between SMEs and larger suppliers, supporting the integration of novel technologies, materials and processes into MOD’s supply chains. DTEP will be open for proposals year-round, with cycles closing at 3-month intervals for assessment of submissions. Defence Minister Jeremy Quin said: Innovation within defence is crucial to maintaining competitive advantage for our Armed Forces. The Defence Technology Exploitation Programme is a positive step in how we support SMEs and larger suppliers to work together to improve the resilience and competitiveness of the MOD’s supply chain. Today’s launch builds upon the successful BEIS-funded National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP) and a pilot of DTEP conducted with Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI). An example of work supported by this pilot is CCP Gransden, based near Ballygowan, collaborating with Thales and Ulster University on a project to replace the Starstreak surface-to-air missile system’s metallic canister with a composite version – reducing reliance on global supply chains for the over 50 components currently needed. 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. Applications to DTEP can be made by UK-based SMEs looking to form a collaboration with a UK-based higher-tier supplier to help integrate and take the novel solution to market. The key areas of interest for proposals are set out in detail on the DTEP portal and are aligned with the recently published Defence Capability Framework . DASA DTEP Business Relationship Managers will be available at all steps of the process, from project formation until after project completion. They will support SMEs through signposting, mentoring and offering other support services. DTEP will be delivered by the MOD’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), in partnership with the Innovate UK group, and it is a core commitment in the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy and SME Action Plan . Submit a proposal DTEP guidance can be accessed here .

Innovative AI methods and technologies for the process industries (RIA) (Processes4Planet and AI, Data and Robotics partnerships)

AI improved advanced manufacturing and production processes in factories (RIA) (Made in Europe and AI, Data and Robotics partnerships)

Development of safe and sustainable alternatives to substances of concern (IA)

New or enhanced Innovative Advanced Materials (IAM) enabled sensing functionality (RIA)

Apply AI: Next-Generation Agile and Intelligent Robotics Platforms for Industrial and Service Applications (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics) (RIA)

Next-Generation AI Agents for Real-World Applications in the Apply AI sectors (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)

Reinforcing EU autonomous access to space through EU-based spaceports

Space critical Equipment for EU non-dependence – Space Refuelling Interface