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Defence: Innovation

Answer

UK Defence Innovation (UKDI), launched on 1 July 2025, unites expertise from previously separate organisations to accelerate the delivery of cutting-edge innovative capabilities, ensuring the United Kingdom remains secure at home and strong abroad. With ringfenced annual funding of at least £400 million, UKDI consolidates innovation efforts across the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to rapidly deliver new technology to the front line and support the growth of a robust defence technology industry.

UKDI serves as a catalyst for growth in the defence, security, and dual-use technology sectors, contributing to the governments aims by creating highly skilled jobs and driving economic growth. Since July 2026, UKDI has been transitioning into its fully designed operating model, with the financial year 2026/27 serving as a transitional period focused on scaling delivery, embedding performance management, and demonstrating measurable impact against Defence outcomes.

The new Defence acquisition model establishes a single, coherent route for innovation from idea to delivery, embedding innovation within core decision-making processes rather than treating it as a parallel activity. Innovation is mandated at every stage—including problem statements, options development, commercial design, commissioning, and delivery—to ensure the early exploitation of novel technologies. UKDI prioritises and funds innovation alongside all other Defence activities, operating within the same strategic frameworks and governance while maintaining the necessary freedoms to operate at pace.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

21689

Session

2026-27

Related items

Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth
Monday, 8 September 2025
Command papers
House of Commons
House of Lords

Grouped for answer

Yes

Subjects

Defence Innovation UK Defence Innovation

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk