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Defence: Innovation

Asked by James CartlidgeConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 8 September 2025UIN 70689

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 53 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer, published on 2 June 2025, whether any new funding models to help make defence innovators more attractive for investment have been created since 2 June 2025.

Answered by Luke Pollard

The publication of the Strategic Defence Review and uplift in defence spending signals an ambition to position defence as an engine for growth.

In support of this the Department has committed to launch a financial services strategy which will explore how to make defence innovators a more attractive proposition for private capital. In parallel, the Defence and Economic Growth Taskforce is building a new partnership with the UK’s outstanding defence industry, with innovators and with investors.

On 1 July UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) launched to signal a transformation of how the Ministry of Defence approaches innovation.

The Ministry of Defence will continue to explore new sources of funding to make defence innovators a more attractive proposition for private capital.

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