DSEI champions defence and security innovation

The event's Innovation Challenge has run for two years, providing a dedicated forum for SMEs to showcase imaginative future capabilities. "Because DSEI is the leading defence event in the world, winning the Innovation Challenge provides independent and expert confirmation that we are thought leaders in digital interoperability", said managing director Graham Booth. "This award allows us to grow our business both in the UK and global market by leveraging the credibility of DSEI as a showcase".

"We entered the 2iC Cross-Domain Tactical Service Bus into the DSEI Innovation Challenge, as we thought this work was both innovative and relevant. It has the potential to make a significant impact on future interoperability for both UK forces and allies".

The product's unique features enable the coordination of behaviour between IT systems in separate domains, providing true coalition interoperability for the first time. The Cross-Domain Tactical Service Bus therefore provides the potential for significant cost savings enabling; systems to be shared between assets, rapid and secure in-field updating, and significant weight savings by reducing duplication.

"The winners, 2iC, had solved a particularly difficult hardware and software integration problem in a novel, cost-effective and thoroughly researched manner", said Innovation Challenge judge Capt Gordon Graham RN - Dstl's Senior Military Adviser. "They even had the foresight to involve the regulatory authorities at an early stage". The high-profile panel also included Ms Heather Goldstraw, Head of Technology Delivery (MoD Defence Equipment & Support and a member of the Dstl Executive team), and Dr Alvin Wilby, an industry representative on the joint MoD/Research and Development Group and Chair of the Research and Development Council at the UK technology industry trade body Intellect.

"2iC was part of a particularly strong field in the DSEI 2013 Innovation Challenge", said event director Duncan Reid. "Given the records broken at this year's event, which demonstrate DSEI's growing strength as the world's leading integrated defence and security event, it is hardly surprising that SME's increasingly target this competition as a global launch-pad into the defence and security industry".

"Following the success of this year's edition, DSEI will continue to build on the valuable relationships forged with the UK MoD, international delegations and exhibitors - many of which have already re-booked more space for the 2015 event".

This year an impressive 32,169 visitors attended the event, a rise of 13% on the previous record in 2011. The exhibition featured 1,489 exhibitors, representing 54 countries, and included 40 international pavilions. 97 official delegations from 56 countries attended, marking a 30% increase on DSEI 2011, while the number of VIPs who attended increased by 20%.

DSEI 2015 will take place at ExCeL London from 15-18 September 2015.