DASA seeks innovative ideas to recycle military waste
Above:
RAF C-130 Hercules.
Courtesy DASA / MoD
Waste is inevitable at sites supporting the daily operations of large military equipment and currently the waste is mainly disposed of by external waste management companies. The MOD aspires to install their own bioprocessors positioned across their sites (including overseas), to manage the waste generated internally. This could provide cost savings to the taxpayer, as well as producing reusable by-products to the benefit of the environment. The solutions could also have cost saving potential for other government departments and aid agencies.
DASA seeks proposals that can develop a bioprocessing system capable of breaking -down waste materials into reusable products, for example: water which can be reintroduced into the water course or reused on site, CO2 to be captured and reused in innovative ways and the residue organic matter which could be used as fertilizer.
Phase 1 of this competition has approximately £1million available to fund three to five proposals and is looking for innovations from across the supply base – from academics, small and medium-sized enterprises and larger companies. It is not necessary for you to have worked with the MoD before, we welcome new ideas. The focus is on funding proof-of-concept (prototype) solutions. Additional funding is anticipated to be available for future phases, to move towards permanent systems for the MoD.
To help understand the problem space and to facilitate opportunities for collaboration, an event will be held at RAF Brize Norton on 1st October 2019. To sign up to this event please register on the Bioprocessing industry day Eventbrite page.
One of our DASA Innovation partners, Dudley Hewlett, will also be attending the Contamination Expo on 11-12 September and available to answer any queries regarding this competition. Please let us know if you are planning to attend this event and we will put you in touch.
Additionally there will be the chance to talk to members of the competition team on 23 September 2019 for a group Q&A and 1-1 dial in sessions. You can register on the Q&A Dial in Eventbrite page and the 1-1 Eventbrite page.
The competition will close on 30th October 2019.
