You may have seen that we have launched a new Market Exploration called ‘How clean is your hull?’. The Royal Navy is looking for innovative ways to clean submarines, specifically to mitigate the negative impact of bio-fouling on a submarine’s signature and performance.
More details are here
If you have any questions, please get in touch.
Many kind regards,
DASA Scotland
Deb (djcarr@dasa.service.mod.uk) – Innovation Partner
Linda (lgalloway@dasa.service.mod.uk) – Innovation Partner
Anis (amourad@dasa.service.mod.uk) – Acces to Mentoring and Finance Partner
DASA are pleased to announce a new funding programme called the Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP).
DTEP is a £16m programme designed to help small or medium-sized (lower-tier) SME suppliers join Defence supply chains and to boost SME defence innovation. Lower-tier suppliers will partner with UK-based higher-tier suppliers who provides or plans to provide Capability to MOD. A grant of up to 50% of total eligible project costs is available to SMEs, up to a maximum value of £500k (£1m total project). In addition, a higher-tier supplier contribution of in-kind resources is required to work with the lower-tier – a minimum of 15% of the total project value. This will not form part of the eligible grant, but is provide in addition to and on top of any government funded support.
Any proposals must address one of the MOD Enduring Capability Challenges:
- Pervasive Full Spectrum Multidomain Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)
- Multi-Domain Command, Control, Communications and Computing (C4)
- Securing and Sustaining Advantage in the Sub-Threshold
- Asymmetric and Hard Power
- Freedom of Access and Manoeuvre in Key Domains and Environments
The competition will be run in 3 monthly cycles, and will have two stages: an outline submission and a full submission.
Full details and closing dates can be found in the competition document here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-defence-technology-exploitation-programme/guidance-document-the-defence-technology-exploitation-programme-dtep
If you are interested in DTEP please get in touch.
Regards
Linda Galloway
Debra Carr
Anis Mourad
DASA Scotland
Very exciting news of a low TRL DASA competition. We are working with the Defence Science and Technology Futures (DSTF) Programme within dstl (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory).
This is different to the normal DASA Competition format so make sure you read the Competition Document carefully. First of all, there is a modified much shorter application form.
Contracts are for a fixed amount (£50k) and there are fixed deliverables i) a two-page executive summary, ii) a 5000-7500 word report and iii) a 20 min presentation – we’d prefer people to attend in person but a virtual option can be arranged. The presentation will be in London and T&S associated with it must be included in the £50k. We aim to fund at least 15 of these projects which will start ~03 Jan 2023 and finish 04 May 2023 (presentations are 03 and 04 May). All the detail is in the Competition Document
So, what are we looking for?
We want to explore novel and creative ideas, concepts and/or technologies that have the potential to cause a significant game-changing or disruptive impact on Defence. We define ‘disruptive impact’ as “… something that radically alters how we do things – this can be positive (e.g. a new capability becomes available) or negative (e.g. a new type of threat arises).” Any topic is of interest from all disciplines.
There is a dial-in session on Friday 16 September. We expect this to be popular so register asap.
If you have any questions get in touch.
Many kind regards,
DASA Scotland
Deb (djcarr@dasa.service.mod.uk) – Innovation Partner
Linda (lgalloway@dasa.service.mod.uk) – Innovation Partner
Anis (amourad@dasa.service.mod.uk) – Access to Mentoring and Finance Partner
You may have seen an announcement on social media for a DASA event hosted at BattleLab (https://defencebattlelab.com/ ). I have been assured that it will be possible to attend virtually with break-out rooms being provided for private conversations. The event is in advance of a new DASA Themed Competition – Novel Amphibious Craft which is due to launch in October 2022. The aim is to fund technologies to help develop a new Commando Insertion Craft (CIC).
This platform will transport personnel and light vehicles across distances in extreme conditions while evading coastal sensors. The work will require collaboration between experts in many disciplines, including those outside the defence sector. This event looks to accelerate partnerships by bringing together prospective innovators.
More details are here
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/collaboration-event-novel-amphibious-craft
If you are interested, I would suggest signing up via Eventbrite asap (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/novel-amphibious-craft-collaboration-day-tickets-400137611367 ). Registration closes on 23 September.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Many kind regards,
DASA Scotland
Deb (djcarr@dasa.service.mod.uk) – Innovation Partner
Linda (lgalloway@dasa.service.mod.uk) – Innovation Partner
Anis (amourad@dasa.service.mod.uk) – Access to Mentoring and Finance Partner
If you wish to be removed from this list or have a colleague to be added please email Deb.
The Defence Exploitation Service has set up a webinar with DASA, hosting a speaker from Defence Procurement to provide useful information to innovators on ‘Doing Business with Defence’. This will include information on where to find MOD contract competitions and frameworks advertised, a brief overview on how to use the Defence Sourcing Portal what to expect during the process.
The webinar and the eventbrite link are detailed below:
Date: Monday 26th September
Time: 1400
More details and sign up: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/doing-business-with-defence-tickets-400025405757
We are delighted to announce Phase 2 of Point of care diagnostics (if you are interested in Phase 1, the information is here).
In Phase 2, we have £1m and expect to fund 1-2 projects which will finish at TRL5. We are looking for innovations that enable front-line clinicians to diagnose and treat individuals exposed to biological or chemical agents in approximately 1 hour. The technology should also be able to be used in proximity to the patient and in demanding austere locations. We have the following requirements:
- Minimal or no requirement for manual sample preparation (blood, serum, plasma, saliva etc).
- Provide a rapid (c. 1 hour or less) time to answer, to facilitate delivery of timely information to clinicians to inform treatment options.
- Provide high confidence information outputs.
- Flexible and adaptable to the integration of new assays for additional analytes to facilitate the identification of a broad spectrum of agents.
We are running a webinar on 03 August, signup is here
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/point-of-care-diagnostics-phase-2-qa-session-tickets-383850797067
The full competition document is here
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/point-of-care-diagnostics-at-the-front-line-phase-2
If you have any questions, please get in touch.
We are delighted to announce the launch of a new DASA Themed Competition – Veterans’ Health Innovation Fund on behalf of The Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA; Cabinet Office). Projects can be up to 24 months in length, will be <£300k and be within TRL1 to TRL6. There is £2.7m available in total.
This is a little different to ‘normal’ Themed Competitions, so read the Competition Document carefully.
Private businesses – Standard DASA terms and conditions will apply
Academia, charities and Public Sector research institutions – OVA has its own terms and conditions. For academics – grants worth 80% FEC will be awarded. Match funding must be secured and described in the application. Details are here
Everyone will apply using the DASA online submission service. However, applications will be shorter than normal. We usually provide Assessors with 90-minutes to assess your application (my estimate 7500-10000 words). However, for this competition, Assessors will only have 30-minutes to assess applications.
There are four Challenges:
- Challenge 1: Digital, data and technology
- Challenge 2: Surgical technology, bioengineering and rehabilitation for blast injuries
- Challenge 3: Public Health, pain management, hearing loss and visual impairment
- Challenge 4: Initiatives to help identify and/or provide solutions to disparities in female veterans’ health and healthcare
More details are here
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/veterans-affairs-health-innovation-fund
Dunnet Bay Distillers has been granted Planning Permission to refurbish the 200-year-old Mill and surrounding land at Castletown, near the distillery’s headquarters.
The Caithness-based company which owns the multi-award-winning Rock Rose Gin and Holy Grass Vodka brands, acquired the historic Mill in 2021. The restoration and fit-out of the refurbished building could cost up to £4million.
The plans involve a full refurbishment of the dilapidated, listed Mill building, with a view to creating further resources for the rapidly expanding business including a visitor centre and a whisky distillery.
Dunnet Bay Distillers products sell globally, enjoying strong sales throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK as well as being distributed in 24 countries across the world.
The eco-friendly spirits company was established in 2014 by husband-and-wife team, Claire Murray and Martin Murray.
Claire Murray, co-founder and co-director of Dunnet Bay Distillers, said: “We are delighted that we now have planning permission to convert the old Mill and thank Highland Council for its decision. We have been working hard with our plans and are looking forward to sharing them in the coming months. The warehouse building has already commenced work and we hope to open a temporary café and small visitor area soon.”
Earlier this year, the company was granted permission to develop a temporary visitor centre, café, and shop near the site of the Old Mill.
Martin Murray, co-founder and co-director of Dunnet Bay Distillers, added: “We’re excited at the prospect of regenerating this fine old building which has lain empty for many years. The Mill will become a Caithness landmark once again and its development will transform our already successful business.”
The company earlier this year asked anyone with connections to the Mill to get in touch to tell their personal stories about the building. The company intends to embed the story of its history into the fabric of the building as they create a new destination on the north coast of Scotland. “We aim to make it into a local destination distillery and so the history is something we wish to remember,” said Martin Murray.
Andrea Wise, Director of Organic Architects, said: “This is a rare opportunity for a thriving local business to regenerate this landmark building which has been unable to find a user for decades. The distillery will be powered by green electricity, making it one of the most sustainable distilleries in the UK industry.” The designs will be contemporary whilst respecting the fabric and style of the old building.
The company has not yet announced when work will commence.
-ENDS-
NOTES TO EDITORS
Image link: https://we.tl/t-PA9iKV7EPI (expires in 7 days’ time)
Jo Jacobius
Dunnet Bay Distillers Press Office
c/o Axiom Communications
+44 (0)7850338998
+44 (0)208 347 8206
We are delighted to announce the launch of two new Themed Competitions. There is some cross-over, if you are unsure which competition to consider please get in touch. Please note that you cannot submit the same proposal to both competitions.
1. Engineering Biology – closes midday on the 25th of August
We have £750k for 12-month Phase 1a projects finishing at TRL3. We expect to fund 7-8 projects.
We have included the possibility that innovators can also signal their interest in a follow-up 12-month Phase 1b project to take their work to TRL4. We have done this to try to facilitate the retention of staff. There will be a decision point towards the end of Phase 1a and only projects deemed successful will be kept on for Phase 1b. Phase 1b also has £750k available.
The Challenges in this competition are wide-ranging but fall under the areas of:
- power and energy,
- materials and
- sensing.
We are running a virtual Q&A day on the 5th of July and there is an opportunity to book a virtual 1-1 session on the 7th and 11th of July. Please book asap – we expect these virtual sessions to be popular.
More information is here
2. Beyond the smartwatch – generation-after-next (GAN) wearables – closes midday on the 25th of August
We have £750k for 12-month projects finishing at TRL2-4. We envisage funding 4-5 projects.
The Challenges in this competition are:
- biocompatibility,
- assay development and
- applicability of accessible bodily fluids to the measurement of particular biomolecules.
We are running a virtual Q&A day on the 6th of July. There will also be the opportunity to book 1-1s but these dates have not yet been released in the document – I know they will be the 19th (0900-1100) and 21st of July (time TBC). Please book asap – we expect these virtual sessions to be popular.
More information is here