MoD’s new defence innovation centre in Dorset reaches major milestone – Business Live

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Design in Design Innovation | 0 Comments

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The first building has completed on the site of a defence initative in Dorset that is aiming to create 90 jobs and boost the local economy by £4m over 10 years.

The £5.7m Defence Innovation Centre in Dorset Innovation Park, the county’s enterprise zone near Dorchester, will allow the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to work directly with SMEs, academic institutions and wider industry to develop new technology and products that could be commercialised in the future.

An engineering workshop space that will be used by the Army, known as the ‘Army BattleLab’, has become the first building to be completed for the project, which is a collaboration between the MoD, Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Dorset Council.

Defence personnel are set to begin using the facility, which includes 1,100 square metres of new office space and meeting and conferencing facilities, later this year.

Brigadier Matt Cansdale, head of future force development with the Army, said the facility was “at the heart of” the Army’s plans to equip itself for the digital age.

Brigadier Cansdale said: “We are delighted that the Army and Defence BattleLab remains on course for completion this year despite recent turmoil.

“This reflects a huge amount of excellent collaborative work from all the partners in this project and is indicative of the strong relationships and commitment from the whole team.

“The completion of this workshop is an important stepping stone and will allow us to start using this facility in its intended purpose of engaging with industry in a more collaborative manner.”

Dorset is also home to MoD establishments including the Army’s Armoured Trial and Development Unit in Bovington, the base of the Royal Corps of Signals in Blandford, and the training area at Lulworth Cove, which is used by all elements of the UK’s Armed Forces.

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Dorset LEP Chair Cecilia Bufton said the organisation would work with the council, local business and academia to help the Army to grow “an ecosystem of highly innovative companies”.

Ms Bufton said: “Dorset LEP is committed to unlocking the skills of our future workforce to support initiatives such as the Defence BattleLab.

“Where there is synergy across other sectors we will endeavour to facilitate and encourage communication across the sectors and in the regional education system to feed this initiative.

“This commitment is included in our Local Industrial Strategy and our Dorset Investment Prospectus. We look forward to connecting our regional network in support of the Army’s drive for innovation.”