New alliance to help grow defence manufacturing supply chain

A new alliance between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult will grow the defence industrial base to protect UK interests against emerging global threats.

With the publication of the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) today, MOD confirmed its commitment to unlock innovation, productivity and growth for industry, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

HVM Catapult is a national innovation hub which helps individual businesses and supply chains develop technology to take forward their ideas for products and production processes, from concept through to commercialisation.

HVM Catapult will support the alliance by providing access to state-of-the-art research and development facilities and market insights to harness new defence plans and deliver the ambitions of the DIS with industry and supply chains, academia and expert partners.

The alliance is supported by a significant increase in R&D spend by the MOD, which will create more certainty for private investors to invest in the defence industrial sector in often overlooked communities in the UK, creating new jobs and regional economic growth.

Katherine Bennett CBE, Chief Executive of HVM Catapult, said:

UK manufacturing businesses – particularly SMEs – with clear ambitions to grow and prosper often face multiple challenges around capability and capacity. This means that competing for contracts in a major supply chain such as defence can seem beyond reach.

We are partnering with MOD to help manufacturers grow by pioneering defence innovation through R&D, including developing dual-use technology that can serve both civilian and defence markets, supporting productivity and competitiveness.

This initiative is part of government’s commitment to the biggest increase in defence spending in a generation, providing a step change in the UK’s defence industrial capability. Our alliance will work to bring the benefits of this change to the wider economy, enabling spillover benefits such as innovation in dual use technologies and a more skilled workforce.

HVM Catapult works with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers of all sizes in defence and other sectors to support scaling, address capability constraints and develop new innovation.

It will also drive the development of dual-use technologies which serve a purpose for both civilians and the military, including advanced materials, artificial intelligence and robotics.

The alliance will help reduce risks and costs for the MOD and enhance industrial readiness, using HVM Catapult’s national assets to help businesses solve major manufacturing and engineering challenges and develop new technology through innovation.