Defence Procurement Minister Lord Drayson today launched the Defence Technology Strategy (DTS), and unveiled the Ministry of Defence's plans for encouraging innovation to support the UK's front line forces.

The DTS sets out the areas of research and development the MOD views as the most important to the future provision of military capability to the UK's Armed Forces.

This strategy will help MOD and industry plan future investment in research and development (R&D). In particular, it allows us to identify clear R&D priorities, including those areas in which they believe it is important to maintain sovereign control, highlight opportunities for collaboration, and provide long-term support to the UK's science and technology skill base.

The DTS builds on the Defence Industrial Strategy White Paper published in December last year.

Lord Drayson unveiled plans for a 10million pound Competition of Ideas, that will encourage innovation by funding new research in prediction, protection, object recognition and networking.

He announced a separate Grand Challenge to innovators produce a system that can detect, identify, monitor and report a comprehensive range of physical threats in a complex urban environment.

Both of these challenges to innovators are designed to stimulate free-ranging innovation from the widest possible science and technology base.

They are seeking the best new ideas that can rapidly be turned into equipment for the British Armed Forces.

New programmes to support research by graduates into emerging technologies were unveiled . This initiative will encourage and support young people in science and technology careers and has the support of leading research and academic organisations in the UK.

Sergyi Way
20.10.2006

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