The University has become a member of the Defence Solutions Centre (DSC) to help develop innovative technologies to meet the UK’s future defence challenges.
The Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, welcomed the University to the DSC at the recent Farnborough International Airshow.
Southampton is one of three new Associate Members, along with Ultra Electronics and Cranfield University. The DSC is part of the wider Defence Growth Partnership (DGP), a joint government and industry drive to boost UK defence exports and employment.
Michael Fallon said:
“The Defence Growth Partnership brings together the best minds in the defence industry and is a fine example of British initiative.”
Roger Gardner, Aerospace Sector Adviser in Research and Innovation Services at the University, said:
“Membership of the DSC gives Southampton access to future government and industry technologies, an understanding of the innovation challenges facing the sector and great connectivity with many potential collaborators in industry. It also strengthens career, mentoring and outreach linkages with defence companies and the relationship offers opportunity to faculties and disciplines right across the University.”
Southampton has a strong track record in research collaboration with the defence sector in a wide variety of areas including electronics, autonomous systems, human factors, modelling and acoustics. The University has been supporting the DGP Centre for Maritime Intelligent Systems (CMIS) for over a year and works with many of its industrial partners.