The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) help and provide advantages to UK defence and security by seeking out solutions and new capabilities in addition to understanding stakeholder requirements. They welcome ideas from organisations of all sizes and extent of ties to the defence and security sector, as well as all fields of science and technology. DASA work with government, industry and academia to unearth ideas solving contemporary problems, while ensuring new ideas can be developed and integrated into front line services. DASA have recently provided further updates to current work.
New Cyber Resilience Funding Opportunities
DASA have now launched two new Innovation Focus areas, and are actively seeking solutions via the Open Call Competition for 1) Autonomous Resilient Cyber Defence (ARCD) Intelligent Agents and 2) Reducing the Cyber Attack Surface (RCAS):
- Through ARCD, DASA are seeking novel ways to reduce the time it takes to respond to cyber incidents and ensuring freedom of action. Emphasis is pushed onto the development of autonomous agents which perceive their environment, take actions autonomously and improve its performance with learning. DASA are looking for ideas between TRLs 1-4, with either a <6 month contract up to £150k or 6-12 month contract up to £300k. Further details can be found here.
- Through RCAS, DASA are seeking novel next-generation hardware and software technologies to ‘design-out’ the vulnerabilities within current and future computer networks and systems. This will dramatically reduce defence exposure to cyber effects. DASA are looking for ideas between TRLs 4-7, up to £300k for a 9 month contract. Further details can be found here.
DSTL Research Priorities
Access to the recent Supercharging Science webinar is now available – this includes the introductory session, access slide packs and understanding of DSTL’s (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) research priorities for the next four years. This covers AI, autonomy, robotics, science and technology futures, space, cyber resilience, and weapons. Further details can be found here.
DASA Innovation Loans Webinar – 9th September 2021
Following the launch of DASA/Innovate UK defence loans last month, we are delighted to invite you to our webinar on September 9th at 10am. We are holding a virtual event “Defence Innovation Loans: Your Questions Answered”. We are inviting you to talk directly to the experts – from both DASA and Innovate UK. The Defence Loans enable SMEs (small- and medium-sized enterprises) to apply for a loan of between £250,000 and £1.6 million. Find out more and register here.
Attending DSEI Trade Expo?
DASA will be exhibiting at DSEI 2021 at ExCeL London between Tuesday 14th September to Friday 17th September and we would like to personally invite you to join us and visit our stand. Use your exclusive DASA guest code, DASA-829, by Tuesday 31st August and get 50% off the current verification fee. Find out more and register here.
Sources
Information provided by Anna Taylor (DASA Innovation Partner for the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber), and segments adapted from Gov.uk.