01 Mar 2007
-
Lord Drayson (right) is shown a selection of MEMS devices at the
Bristol ‘Unlocking Innovation’ seminar
When it comes to 21st century defence technology, no one can do it alone – not even BAE Systems. So how does a company like ours ensure that it can access the very best from the world’s science and technology providers? The answer lies in technology brokering where the trick is to pick out the gems from the maze of potential suppliers and then manage their introduction into the business.
The ATC is now playing a key role in ‘spinning in’ new technologies from the supply chain that could be crucial to bridge any gaps in our capability. This is an important factor in underpinning BAE Systems’ long term partnering relationships with the MoD and our other key defence customers.
The balance between ‘making it in-house’, ‘buying it in’ or ‘partnering with others’ when pulling together technical capability is paramount for companies like BAE Systems who integrate large, complex systems. To make these kinds of decisions requires a bird’s eye view of what’s on offer from supplier companies and institutions around the world.
According to Alan Levenston, Technical Director of the ATC, such perspective is one of the strengths of the ATC. “Getting our hands on the best of what’s out there needs an open minded approach by which we can trawl potential suppliers at every point in the supply chain. The ATC is then ideally placed to assess what’s on offer by using our diverse expertise spanning the science and engineering disciplines.” he says.
As part of this ‘Open Innovation’ approach, Alan and his team played a supporting role in the recent ‘Unlocking Innovation’ seminar organised by the West of England Aerospace Forum in Bristol. The keynote address was given by Lord Drayson, Minister for Defence Procurement. Also at this event, Simon Jewell, BAE Systems Strategic Business Development Director, outlined the company’s technology acquisition strategy. He described how it intends to make a full contribution to the MoD’s objectives (as stated in the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS)) and encouraged organisations in the South West to contribute and become engaged.
The ATC is also assisting with the company’s formal response to the DIS. To help this process of engagement, Alan and his team are preparing a series of briefings that set out the company’s requirement in four key themes aligned with the MoD’s objectives.
“We are preparing a series of value propositions for suppliers spelling out our needs on the topics of ISTAR*, Autonomy, Networks & Information and Through Life Capability Management.**” says Alan. “Depending on the responses, we can then make the decisions on what type of relationship with the suppliers would be best, or indeed, if we should go-it alone.” he says.
Another approach being pursued by the ATC is to tap into existing networks and agencies that already have wide links with science and technology providers. One such is the Defence Diversification Agency who for some years has been ‘spinning out’ military technology into the commercial world and in the process has gained a panoramic view of the UK defence technology supplier base. Although engaged in diversification, many of these suppliers could have capability that is ripe for ‘spinning back in’. Technology brokering is a long game. Building relationships takes time but the first fruits are appearing.
“Its early days yet” says Alan, “but already we’ve had a major demonstration of autonomous technology (see ‘Taming the Wildcat’) that involved a wide brokering of resources, equipment and manpower from a large team of suppliers as well as the ATC.” he says.
Another example is a successful information ‘grid’ technology partnership with Hewlett Packard. These examples of technology brokering in action are just the beginning. As the process becomes established, the ATC aims to be a vital link between the science and technology supplier base and BAE Systems Businesses especially in support of their long term partnering arrangements with the MoD.
*ISTAR: Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance **TLCM: Through Life Capability Management describes an approach to the acquisition and in-service management of military capability in which every aspect of new and existing military capability is planned and managed coherently across all Defence Lines of Development from cradle to grave. from ‘Through-Life Capability Management (TLCM) Operating Framework’ MoD, Draft 0.4 16 Aug 06
