The UK government has announced £200,000 of new funding for innovative, ‘blue sky’ ideas in radar and sensors at the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA).

The new Innovation Focus Area (IFA) at DASA will provide innovators with seed funding for what the government calls “light bulb moments” in “revolutionary radar thinking”.

Founded in 2016, DASA is a cross-government organisation set up to find exploitable innovations in defence and security quickly and effectively.

The new funding is designed to help the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) find new concepts or technologies that have the potential to transform the UK’s radar-sensing capabilities on land, at sea, and in the air, according to an announcement from the government this week.

“The Armed Forces rely on radar capabilities to provide situational awareness and intelligence on a daily basis,” said the announcement. “Any concept or technology considered through this funding route must enhance the MOD’s future vision for a resilient and robust radar system that is flexible, multi-function, networked and cognitive.”

A new open competition aims to encourage “anyone with a good idea that has potential to solve defence and/or security challenges to apply for funding at any time”.

  •  In related news, DASA will be hosting a security technology event in London on 26 June. At the conference and showcase, there will be briefings from across government and frontline services, with suppliers having the chance to see the full range of services available through DASA. There will also be a networking opportunity for innovators from industry, academia, government and frontline services.

Be part of a discussion and connect with like-minded leaders in your sector at our forthcoming trade event – The Sensor Show – next year.