Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • DASA initiative to accelerate innovative UK defence solutions

Defence

DASA initiative to accelerate innovative UK defence solutions

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has announced the launch of a new Early Market Engagement (EME) pilot initiative for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on the theme of Uncrewed Systems.

Image courtesy DASA

This pilot aims to collaboratively curate problems alongside industry and academia to determine whether a full competition in this area is required. The initial pilot will concentrate on two critical sub-systems of Uncrewed Systems:

Why is Early Market Engagement needed?
The MoD Innovation Directorate and Defence Suppliers Forum (DSF) are collaborating with industry to improve Defence’s capacity to turn innovative solutions into needed capabilities. The EME pilot will collect insights from industry experts to better understand specific problem areas. This proactive strategy aims to challenge problems and identify potential solutions that could rapidly deliver capability for defence. The DASA Early Market Engagement initiative forms part of the MoD’s overall intent to improve its engagement with industry and market early on their capability challenges.

Advertisement
ODU RT

For prospective suppliers, participating in the EME workshops will provide an opportunity to understand, engage with and contribute to the MoD’s problem challenge areas. Although this does not guarantee that a competition will take place afterwards, this advance notice enables suppliers to consider the potential development of new or enhanced existing offerings.

Who can attend?
The EME workshops welcome participants from both industry and academia. Workshop attendance is limited to one person per company and the attendee must have a good understanding of the problem space and the relevant technology that their company has. The workshops will function as open forums, and participants must be prepared to engage in discussions. Please note that these workshops will be conducted at OFFICIAL classification.

You can find further details about the pilot and full details of the problem statements in the Early Market Engagement document.

Workshop dates and registration:
The EME workshops will take place in three locations over six dates as shown below, to apply to attend a workshop visit the Eventbrite page. Applications close at 12:00 midday on 31st October 2024 (GMT).

Advertisement
ODU RT

Bristol:
    Position, Navigation & Timing (PNT) - 19th November 2024
    Low-cost, Fast Engines - 20 November 2024

London:
    Position, Navigation & Timing (PNT) – 26th November 2024
    Low-cost, Fast Engines – 27 November 2024

Newcastle:
    Position, Navigation & Timing (PNT) - 12th November 2024
    Low-cost, Fast Engines - 13 November 2024

For more information read the full Early Market Engagement document to learn more.

Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner
Optera funding fuels UK hub for space domain awareness

Defence Security Space

Optera funding fuels UK hub for space domain awareness

15 June 2026

Optera, a neuromorphic sensing company delivering next-generation space domain awareness (SDA), has raised £3 million to establish and scale its UK headquarters and engineering team.

Anotec introduces SurTec 650 surface treatment

Aerospace Defence

Anotec introduces SurTec 650 surface treatment

15 June 2026

Wolverhampton based surface treatment specialist Anotec, has announced the introduction of SurTec 650, a high-performance process increasingly specified in the defence and aerospace sectors.

Metis wins Kongsberg contract for Skyperion Lightweight

Defence

Metis wins Kongsberg contract for Skyperion Lightweight

15 June 2026

Lincoln based specialists in providing Radio Frequency (RF) and drone detection tech, Metis, has been selected to provide its Skyperion Lightweight passive RF sensor to Kongsberg to support the Polish SAN counter Uncrewed Air System (cUAS) programme, worth over £30 million.

Cambridge Pixel showcasing VSD-C2 at Eurosatory

Defence Events

Cambridge Pixel showcasing VSD-C2 at Eurosatory

15 June 2026

Cambridge Pixel is at Eurosatory, Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition centre (15th-19th June), showcasing its iVSD-C2 display software.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Thales unveils AI-powered Gladiator at Eurosatory

Defence Events

Thales unveils AI-powered Gladiator at Eurosatory

15 June 2026

Today at Eurosatory in Paris (15th-19th June), Thales has unveiled its new AI-powered Gladiator Training Data Analytics solution with Advanced After Action Review (AAR) capabilities that include interactive timelines, exercise replay, tactical metrics grounded in the fundamental principles of warfare, and AI-powered communications analysis.

Europe

Defence

Europe's largest drone test centre opened in Swindon

15 June 2026

The new Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis MP has opened Europe’s biggest drone testing centre in Swindon, learning lessons from the Ukraine and Iran conflicts and set to rapidly develop and field capabilities in far shorter time frames.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
General Atomics LB