A £16 million programme to boost small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) defence innovation has been launched today

The Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP), which combines the resources of large suppliers, the ingenuity of SMEs, and initial support from the government, aims to bring the necessary elements together to foster the success of innovative ideas.

The objective is to maintain the UK’s position as a leader in defence technology by enhancing the capabilities available to our armed forces, boosting industrial competition in the UK, and expanding potential export benefits.

Through DTEP, individual funds of up to 50% of a project’s value, up to a maximum of £500,000 per grant, will be made available to support the integration of novel technologies, materials, and processes into the MOD’s supply chains.

DTEP will accept ideas all year long, with cycles for submission evaluation concluding at 3-month intervals.

Innovation in the defence sector is essential to preserving our Armed Forces’ competitive advantage, according to Defense Minister Jeremy Quin.

The Defense Technology Exploitation Programme is a step in the right direction for helping SMEs and larger suppliers collaborate to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of the MOD’s supply chain.

The successful BEIS-funded National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP) and a DTEP pilot project with Invest Northern Ireland serve as the foundation for today’s launch (Invest NI).

The Starstreak surface-to-air missile system’s metallic canister is being replaced with a composite one as part of a project by CCP Gransden, a company based close to Ballygowan, Thales, and Ulster University.

This will lessen reliance on global supply chains for the more than 50 components currently required.

Anita Friend, the head of the Defense and Security Accelerator, stated that the DTEP has been created to assist SMEs in joining defence supply chains and provides SMEs and larger suppliers with the opportunity to collaborate to address defense-related issues.

A SME can grow and expand their firm through DTEP, which provides capital as well as the chance to introduce new technologies into the UK defence supply chain.

With early access to novel technology or procedures that they might be able to assist commercialise, DTEP is also advantageous for larger businesses.

UK-based SMEs that want to work together with a UK-based higher-tier supplier to assist integrate and promote the new solution can submit applications to DTEP.

The DTEP portal includes a detailed list of the main areas of interest for proposals, which are in line with the recently released Defence Capability Framework.

DASA DTEP Business Relationship Managers will be accessible throughout the entire process, from the start of the project to its conclusion.

They will assist SMEs by providing guidance, coaching, and other support services.

DTEP is a key commitment in the Defense and Security Industrial Strategy and SME Action Plan and will be carried out by the MOD’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), in collaboration with the Innovate UK group.