Britain Pilots Technology Research Scheme

Britain is investing £10m into research to encourage more innovation and engagement between the government and defence technology developers.

Minister of State for Defence Lord Drayson says two pilot programmes, known as Research Concept Demonstrators, will allow the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to quickly assess ideas with tangible evidence.

The two pilot programmes will be worth around £5m each and will focus on high priority areas.

"These programmes of fixed duration will allow the MoD to quickly assess concepts with practical and tangible evidence," Drayson says.

"Not all ideas will succeed but those that do will be in a better state to transfer quickly to our forces."