Raytheon UK to fund new research projects with SMEs

Above: Raytheon UK, Harlow, Essex.
Courtesy Raytheon UK

Now in its sixth year, SpaRk supports innovative technology ideas from SMEs and academic institutions.

Alex Rose-Parfitt, Engineering Director, Raytheon UK, said: “SMEs and academia are vital to the country’s economy and key to extending Raytheon UK’s research and development supply chain.

“Through SpaRk, we offer financial assistance and mentoring, as well as access to our customers and markets, engineering expertise and networking opportunities.”

Nottingham Scientific Limited will receive funding to produce a feasibility study on a satellite-based system design to monitor Radio Frequency signals in the Global Navigation Satellite System, or GNSS. This could be used to protect critical infrastructure, assets and vital operations from cyber-attacks like spoofing and jamming.

Visual Management Systems, a leading provider of face recognition technology, will explore the feasibility of using machine learning technology on unmanned airborne platforms to monitor, detect and recognise vehicles and other assets in remote areas. It also seeks to improve the quality of currently available information and the cost of data transmission.

Since 2015 Raytheon UK has invested more than £1.5 million in SMEs and universities to further research and development projects across the country.

With facilities in Broughton, Waddington, Glenrothes, Harlow, Gloucester and Manchester, Raytheon UK is invested in the British workforce and the development of UK technology. Across the country the company employs 1,700 people and supports 10,000 jobs. As a prime contractor and major supplier to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Raytheon continues to invest in research & development and is supporting innovation and technological advances across the UK.