Defence and Security Accelerator update: Lucy Mason: DSEI 2017

Editor's Notes

• #6: Background
• #7: Any level of development – from ideas on a page through to initial research and developed products or services; Any science and technology including social, human and behavioural sciences; Anyone with a good idea including UK-based private sector companies, especially Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME), third sector organisations, academics and spin-outs, innovators, and relevant partner organisations overseas; Any exploitation pathway including other Government and non-Government customers, and exports. We achieve this by - Identifying science and technology opportunities for exploitation Bringing together innovators and build connections; Supporting the strongest opportunities Helping innovators build and grow successful businesses of benefit for the UK’s defence and security
• #8: Why work with us money – we provide funding to develop promising and game-changing ideas • access – our networks and access to the customer and end users are invaluable • proactive – we scout for ideas and actively pursue them • contract terms – we offer quick, easy and beneficial contractual terms • events – we provide opportunities to explore challenges and network with Government officials in defence and security, such as hackathons, sandpits, pitch panels, competitions and exhibitions • guidance – our Innovation Partners and team provide guidance for your idea • exploitation – we will help bridge the ‘valley of death’ and help get the best innovations through to exploitation • purpose – we want to keep our country and our people safe from our adversaries and support economic growth and prosperity • trust – we are open and fair and provide transparency data on our website OLD TEXT Be a simple and straightforward way for UK defence and security to find new ideas and solutions Proactively scout for new opportunities and introduce them to you Understand your problem space and help you identify the best way to solve it Offer a range of options such as hackathons, sandpits, competitions and events to explore the problem and potential solutions Provide funding to develop promising ideas Bridge the ‘Valley of Death’ and help get the best innovations through to exploitation, with an evidenced business case
• #9: Our aim is to create a route into defence and security whereby anyone with a good idea – from an idea on a page to a ready-to-use product - can easily and quickly suggest it, and receive a rapid response. We should be able to offer them a range of possible support, including funding but also potentially access to business support, mentoring, introductions to end-users, or signposting to other possible sources of funding (e.g. Innovate UK). This will be phased in over the coming months starting XXXXXX Reasons In line with Defence innovation fund remit Focus on higher maturity innovative ideas / exploitable quick wins Allows us access to alternative funds Expands the remit to include security not just defence Opens up competition to those providing services as well as technology Images represent Range of support we provide will increase: Funding Business support & mentoring Brokering introductions Advising on alternative funding routes Funding caps will be lifted. Ideas, products or services at any level of maturity will be welcomed. Multi-year funding to be introduced. We will cater for academic timescales. New criteria for proposal assessment.
• #10: From 19 September … Open call One pager. Accessible from our website Simple, straight forward one page form outlining innovation. We will give you a straight answer if we think it’s worth your time and ours to put in a full proposal under the Open Call Quick turnaround, typically 5 working days We will either give you the green light or if we can signpost you to someone can help. Another great offer from the Accelerator Benefit – doesn’t waste your time (or ours).
• #11: Achievements   546 assessed proposals received from: 200 proposals from 175 micro organisations 120 proposals from 76 SME organisations 132 proposals from 40 large organisations 94 proposals from 47 academia organisations The majority of proposals are from UK based companies, only 30 were non-UK. On average both the themed and open call competitions fund 1 in 5 proposals The average funding is £83k The majority of contracts are placed within 3 weeks of funding decision 103 contracts have been placed; 25 with academia, 19 with large, 22 with SME and 37 with micro organisations. £9.2m has been allocated to phase 1 funding Over 40% of proposals received into each Accelerator competition have been from ‘new’ organisations We have over 650 assessors across government, academia and in-house   What we have trialled recently:   Fast track Multi-TRL Short form contract