Govt recognises Greater Lincolnshire as regional Defence and Security Cluster

Greater Lincolnshire has been officially acknowledged by the UK government as a Regional Defence and Security Cluster. This recognition came after the government’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) approved the launch of this cluster at an event in Lincoln, attended by Sir John Peace, members of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), foreign defence attachés, leaders from the defence business sector, and representatives from the University of Lincoln and the Lincoln Science and Innovation Park.

Major General Julian Free, deputy vice chancellor at the University of Lincoln and chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP Defence and Security Board, said: “Today marks an important milestone for the region as the culmination of a lot of work to connect the regional defence and security sector SME, prime contractor and supply chain community, to raise the profile of the tremendous innovation they are driving to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow, and to promote the opportunities for other companies to locate or expand here as part of the cluster. “It also provides a springboard for individuals to pursue exciting and rewarding high-tech, high-value careers in Greater Lincolnshire.”

The government-recognised cluster will also prove to be a launchpad for individuals who want to dive into high-tech, high-value careers in Greater Lincolnshire.

Anita Friend, head of the Defence and Security Accelerator, commented: “In supporting the creation of Regional Defence and Security Clusters in the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy, the MOD and especially my team within DASA recognised that collaboration between the established industry suppliers, SMEs and academia, supported by regional partnerships, was key to increasing the diversity in the regions to develop, exploit and commercialise advanced innovation for defence and security. The Greater Lincolnshire Defence & Security Cluster will have a vital central role in fostering that collaboration for Lincolnshire and as part of the growing network of regional clusters.”

The cluster will support innovation in the field of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance as part of its ambition to establish Greater Lincolnshire as a national defence and security innovation, production and service hub, while promoting the area’s ability to develop and support defence and security programmes.

According to John Ridge, director of defence innovation at the MOD, “Lincolnshire has a long history of manufacturing, research, development, and innovation expertise to generate military capability for the UK and a solid link to innovation and collaboration between MOD and industry. The Greater Lincolnshire RDSC lands in the middle of that rich Lincolnshire innovation environment with a key focus on technologies. It is the MOD’s aspiration that as well as supporting the development of defence and security capabilities for the UK, RDSCs will to promote our ability to develop and support programmes to increase regional wealth through greater public and private inward investment and the creation of high-value, better paid jobs.”