The fund dubbed ‘IRIS’, short for the innovation and research insights unit, is intended to put money behind risky and emerging defence technologies.

We understand that new institutions will be launched in the wake of the funding announcement to advance defence technology.

Defence secretary Michael Fallon said:

“This new approach will help to keep Britain safe while supporting our economy, with our brightest brains keeping us ahead of our adversaries.

“Backed by a defence budget that will rise every year until the end of the decade, it will ensure that the UK maintains its military advantage in an increasingly dangerous world.”

According to a press release, surveillance drones inspired by dragonflies, laser weapons, mobile robots that can inspect incidents involving chemical materials, sensors that use gravity to survey underground structures in minutes, and virtual reality helmets to practice calling in simulated air strikes are all the type of thing that is to be encouraged.

“These are the types of futuristic technology that along with other smart solutions are set to be backed by the government’s new defence innovation initiative, which launches today.”

The press release continues, the plan will transform how defence deals with the challenges of tomorrow, to gain critical advantage for our defence and security forces:

  • “An Innovation and Research Insights Unit (IRIS) will anticipate emerging trends in technology and analyse the implications for UK Defence and Security, informing critical decisions to maintain our military advantage and protect the UK.”
  • “The best and brightest individuals and companies will be invited to pitch to a dragon’s den style panel, backed by a fund of around £800m over 10 years. It will involve taking more risks in backing ideas, with a fast-track for truly novel ideas to match the pace of smaller firms.”
  • “Once strategy and investment decisions have been taken, a dedicated hub will act as a ‘defence and security accelerator’, ensuring that innovative solutions to our most pressing national security challenges are developed at pace to stay ahead of our adversaries.”

The Ministry of Defence currently spends up to 20% of its Science and Technology budget on cutting edge “disruptive capability” projects. Disruptive capabilities displace an established technology and shake up industry.

According to the MoD, current projects include:

  • “A tiny Unmanned Aerial System with flapping wings inspired by the biology of a dragonfly, currently in development with Animal Dynamics. The ‘micro-drone’ will use cutting edge micro-engineering for unparalleled levels of performance. This has the potential to have a huge impact on intelligence-gathering in future operations in complex urban environments.”
  • “A new Quantum Gravimeter developed with the University of Birmingham could allow us to survey underground structures in minutes rather than weeks. This portable gravity sensing system uses cold atom quantum technology and two gravimeters coupled together for the first time to allow for higher sensitivity and reliability when carrying out surveys, enhanced robustness to external noise sources and drastically reduced measurement time. Applications for our Armed Forces range from spotting enemy tunnels to supporting disaster relief.”
  • “And we are developing a capability demonstrator with industry that will investigate the potential of laser weapons to target and defeat aerial threats.”

IRIS will run for 10 years and the official call for investment opportunities will be in September. Individuals and companies will then be invited to pitch their ideas.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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jon livesey
jon livesey
7 years ago

This is very good news. I hope they put a high priority on software as well as gadgets.

Derek Warriner
7 years ago

It’s a great pity that this money cannot be used for saving the planet instead of destroying it….we don’t really deserve to live on this planet…we are so destructive

Stevie Allen
7 years ago
Reply to  Derek Warriner
Mark Harwood
7 years ago

Why are you on this page Derek

Derek Warriner
7 years ago
Reply to  Mark Harwood

Why does it offend you that I have a sense of morality that clearly some do not….

UK Defence Journal
7 years ago
Reply to  Mark Harwood

I think it’s more the oddity of making comments like that on a page dedicated to defence news, it’s a touch daft.

Derek Warriner
7 years ago
Reply to  Mark Harwood

Wow..astounding that you feel a humanistic comment regarding the waste of money concerned is “daft”…I wonder which one of us has the real problem? The potential killer or me?…..take your time working that out as I know it will be difficult…

Mark Harwood
7 years ago
Reply to  Mark Harwood

The money is being well spent. It’s the governments duty to provide defense for its people and provide its forces with the best equipment to carry out this task. It’s also the governments duty to provide employment when possible This article provides all three of them

UK Defence Journal
7 years ago
Reply to  Mark Harwood

See that’s part of it too, your insistence that you’re morally superior because you hold a different view on the validity of spending money on defence is actually very suspect.

Are you, an adult, seriously contending that I’m a potential killer because I disagree with you?

With respect, no one wants an argument Derek, this is a defence news page and I’m not sure why you thought it would be the best place to post.

Julian
Julian
7 years ago

In a wonderful irony Derek is able to express his views to a wide audience thanks to a technology whose creation was funded by the USA’s version of exactly what this article is discussing, advanced military technology research. DARPA (Defence Research and Procurement Agency) has funded loads of projects since the late 1950s including the basic networking technologies that underpin today’s internet; ARPAnet was the first implementation of a TCP/IP network which is the networking protocol that underpins the internet to this day, allows doctors to remotely diagnose children in disaster areas, allows medical researchers to collaborate more effectively, allows… Read more »

Nigel Murphy
7 years ago

Daniel Jonas

Nigel Murphy
7 years ago

Good. I’m glad money will be spent on defending me and my family.

Bernard Chanelle
Bernard Chanelle
7 years ago

Do we know whether this Innovation and Research Insights Unit (IRIS) will replace or just work in conjunction with the Centre for Defence Enterprise?