Defence Innovation and Procurement Discussed Ahead of UK’s New Industrial Strategy
A high-level roundtable hosted by DSEI UK brought together the UK Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP, and representatives from defence technology companies including Qinetiq, Dell, 4GD, and Capita Defence. The discussion focused on the need to accelerate the development of defence technologies in response to increasingly complex and converging global threats, as outlined in the UK’s Strategic Defence Review.
Minister Eagle emphasized the importance of collaboration between government and industry to ensure that advanced technologies can be rapidly transitioned from concept to operational use. She noted:
“Threats around the world are changing fast and we will rely on the ingenuity of businesses of all sizes to take cutting-edge concepts from the drawing board to our Armed Forces on the frontline. Events like DSEI and this roundtable bring that expertise together and our new Defence Industrial Strategy will show how we'll build a stronger defence sector to support fast, flexible approaches that help us develop technology quickly.”
Participants discussed how the Ministry of Defence and the broader defence sector can better support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in bringing new technologies to market. The conversation also addressed the growing role of dual-use technologies—those with both civilian and military applications—and how they are reshaping traditional procurement models.
Another key topic was the need to strengthen the talent pipeline for defence innovation, ensuring that the sector can attract and retain the skills required to meet future challenges. These themes reflect a broader consensus across government and industry on the need to adapt to lessons from ongoing conflicts, including those in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The issues raised during the roundtable are expected to feature prominently at DSEI UK, which will take place at ExCeL London in September. They are also anticipated to be addressed in the Ministry of Defence’s forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy.
DSEI UK is a major international event for the defence and security sector, providing a forum for dialogue between government, industry, and technology providers on the future of defence capability and readiness.
