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Written question asked by Chuka Umunna (Labour) on Friday, 13 March 2015, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 17 March 2015. A holding answer was provided on Monday, 23 March 2015. A substantive answer was provided by Philip Dunne (Conservative) on Tuesday, 24 March 2015 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Small Business Research Initiative: Technology

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what technologies are being developed with support from his Department's Small Business Research Initiative programme; and what assessment he has made of the future potential uses of those technologies.

Answer

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) uses the Small Business Research Initiative, in conjunction with its own methods, to access innovation from a broad technology supply base. Most of the MOD's Small Business Research Initiative efforts have been with the MOD's Centre of Defence Enterprise as part of the continuing investigation of a full range of technologies relevant to defence.

Since 2008, the Centre of Defence Enterprise has funded over 900 projects covering diverse technologies from cyber to clothing. Over 70% of these have been in conjunction with the Small Business Research Initiative. A full list of all contracts from the Centre of Defence Enterprise since April 2012 is at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cde-funded-contracts

Technologies explored through this route are assessed and evaluated by the MOD's Science and Technology Programme or through development of specific equipment projects.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
227522
Session
2014-15
Subjects
Technology Small Business Research Initiative
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk