Case Study: AWE and the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA)
Collaborating to empower future innovators
An aligned focus to drive innovation in UK defence and security brought AWE Nuclear Security Technologies and the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) together. The collaboration builds on DASA’s extensive experience in identifying and supporting innovation projects for defence and security applications, and demonstrates AWE’s commitment to growing an innovative and diverse supply base in support of its ambitious business transformation programme.
AWE is an organisation of critical national importance and is at a significant stage in the development of the UK’s future nuclear deterrent capability. This presents an opportunity to transform the way that AWE operates and delivers world-class nuclear science and industrial know-how. The replacement warhead programme will be a national endeavour, building a wider, deeper supply chain and drawing on the very best of UK industry. Collaboration with DASA will be vitally important to this strategic objective.
DASA and AWE will work together to identify AWE’s innovation needs and enable engagement with British companies who have the potential to generate exploitable innovation, delivering a quick and effective impact on AWE’s mission. Both organisations are committed to welcoming ideas from innovators in companies small and large, including those who have not previously worked with government.
DASA’s role is to advise these innovators, helping to de-mystify the requirements and support suppliers on their journey to working with the Ministry of Defence. They are ideally placed to help us protect the UK through nuclear science and technology by finding innovations which enable us to stay ahead of the threats the nation faces, not just now, but those that may emerge in the decades to come.
Working with new partners like DASA, who bring fresh-thinking and ideas to the defence space, enables AWE’s brilliant people to continue to solve the most complex challenges as the organisation builds the highly-skilled teams, facilities and capabilities needed to deliver the UK’s replacement warhead programme.
“AWE’s work is crucial for the security of the UK and DASA is eager to collaborate with them to find and fund innovations that will support their vital and sensitive projects. The partnership with AWE Nuclear Security Technologies underscores DASA’s commitment to engage with diverse stakeholders across government to help foster innovation and maximise impact for the safety and security of the UK.”
Anita Friend, Head of DASA
