Sealand set to become innovation hotbed for Ministry of Defence

A Ministry of Defence agency which supplies sensitive and specialist science and technology services to UK armed forces and Government has opened an office within the Defence Electronics and Components Agency (DECA) in MoD Sealand.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has agreed a deal with DECA which will see them look at new and innovative ways in which they can work together.

The two agencies will work across a range of science, technology and engineering areas in a bid to make MoD equipment programmes more cost-effective.

Dstl has set up a ‘pathfinder’ function within the DECA’s main facility at MoD Sealand to begin planning for the “rapid establishment” of a joint Dstl/DECA collaboration team.

The move will see staff from both organisations take part in exchanges, apprenticeship opportunities, education, continuing professional development, ‘best practice’ benchmarking visits and inter-Agency networking.

[Dstl Chief Executive Gary Aitkenhead with Geraint Spearing, DECA Chief Executive] 

Over time they intend to find new ways of working to support the UK Government’s Prosperity Agenda through collaboration with industry, wider Government and the devolved Governments of the UK, as well as allied and partner nations.

Gary Aitkenhead, Dstl Chief Executive, commented:

“This is an exciting venture and will further enable Dstl to optimise and expand its capacity and capability through working with our strategic partners. It also provides Dstl with a firm presence in North Wales with significant opportunities for our employees and those seeking a science and technology career in the region.

We will also be looking to grow our supply chain network in the North West and in Wales, and look forward to developing relationships with high quality business there.”

Geraint Spearing, DECA Chief Executive, said:

“This initiative provides both Agencies with a fantastic opportunity to collaborate in supporting UK MOD and deliver effective, sustainable solutions into the future.

We are looking forward to working closely with Dstl through this partnership, focussing not only on technologies and support solutions, but also importantly on skills development which is high on our agenda both regionally and nationally.”

DECA Sealand has a long history in providing specialised services in support of UK Defence including the repair, maintenance and upgrade facilities for UK military defence platforms.

The agency based within the grounds of the Former RAF base at Sealand secured a further £500m deal to provide avionic and aircraft component support to the RAF and Royal Navy’s new F-35 fast jet aircraft which will fly from RAF Marham and the UK’s two new aircraft carriers.

Dstl is an executive agency of MOD, run along commercial lines. It is one of the principal government organisations dedicated to science and technology in the Defence and security field, with six sites: at Porton Down, near Salisbury; Portsdown West, near Portsmouth; Fort Halstead, near Sevenoaks; Sandridge, near St Albans; Langhurst, near Horsham; and, Alverstoke, near Gosport. Dstl works with a wide range of partners and suppliers in industry, in academia and overseas.