DTEP is a £16m technology development programme that seeks to improve the competitiveness of the UK defence supply chain. It is overseen by the Industrial Programmes team in the Directorate of Industrial Strategy and Exports (DISE) and delivered by the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) supported by Innovate UK. A key element of DTEP is collaboration between an SME supplier and a higher-tier partner that already has experience of working with defence. The sponsoring higher-tier partner will contribute time, effort and resources to work with the SMEs in these collaborative innovation projects.
From August 2023, the Project Review Panel stage of the process is being organised by ADS and its regional partners like the Midlands Aerospace Alliance.
About DTEP
The programme aims to inspire SMEs across the UK to win new business, develop industrial capabilities and provide new cutting-edge answers to defence problems at home and abroad. Following the NATEP model of mentoring, DASA Business Relationship Managers help companies develop their proposals and can also provide guidance on collaboration agreements and intellectual property protection.
Eligible proposals:
- are in Technology Readiness Levels 3 to 7 and align with MOD’s current and upcoming equipment capabilities and technology priorities.
- are a collaboration between a lower tier supplier and a higher tier partner. The sponsoring higher tier supplier (not just primes) will be expected to contribute their time, effort and resources to work with the SMEs to undertake these collaborative research and development projects
- have a compelling route to market – demonstrated by having a higher tier supply chain partner with a linkage to a new or existing MOD capability.
Funding
DTEP offers companies grant funding of up to 50% of a total project expenditure. There is no lower limit to project cost, however, it is expected that most project totals will be between £100K and £500K. The competition will have a maximum allowable project value of £1M (i.e. maximum grant award of £500K). Projects must plan to start within 6 months of Innovate UK grant award and run for a maximum duration of 18 months.
The Higher Tier Supplier must contribute a minimum of 15% of the grant value through their own resources, e.g. staff time, equipment, facilities, expertise etc. This in addition to (not part of) the total project value. This should be detailed within the full proposal.
£620k shared by two innovators in first round of DTEP Funding
At DSEI 2023, DASA announced grant funding for two innovative small companies to develop cutting-edge projects with higher-tier partners under the Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP). SMEs – Filtronic Broadband and ISS Aerospace – will each receive a government grant, worth 50 per cent of the project value, to partner with a larger supplier to develop innovative new solutions that meet defence challenges. You can find out more about the successful Cycle 1 SMEs in this press release.
The two funded SMEs in Cycle 1 will be followed by more projects selected through further Cycles during 2023-24. If you are interested in applying, then view the full guidance document on the gov.uk website and speak to a DASA Innovation Partner with your idea. Complete the Contact DASA Form.
DTEP Application Cycle
There is one application entry point at the outline proposal stage. Engage with DASA at idea stage to support your idea formation. Once your application is submitted, outline proposals are reviewed by an industry review panel which will include experts from industry, across a range of defence organisations. The application process includes feedback points and a capability alignment assessment before a grant is awarded.
View the full guidance document on the gov.uk website.
Speak to a DASA Innovation Partner with your idea, please submit a Contact DASA Form.
EOIs invited for Regional Project Review Panels
We are looking for panel members to join regional Project Review Panels (PRPs) to provide industry feedback to the Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP) applicants.
Industry representatives from across the defence supply chain meet on a quarterly basis under the DTEP banner to discuss and review the latest technology ideas being proposed – prior to the projects’ submissions for funding. The feedback from these meetings adds enormous value to the project applications for the technology scope, understanding of the market and route to exploitation.
As DTEP continues to grow, additional reviewers on our panels are needed to broaden the panels’ expertise to match the increasing diversity of the technologies being proposed.
These regional Project Review Panels (PRPs) are a great and informal way for representatives to network with industry colleagues from across the UK, be at the forefront of emerging technologies and see what makes a successful proposal.
If you come from a defence background and would like to get involved, please contact Nancy Jardine for more information.
nancy.jardine@adsgroup.org.uk
Tel: 020 7091 4543
M. 07860 853348
