Defence and security

• Opportunities to influence the development of policy, programmes and procurements, to improve benefits for the UK and markets for members.
• Better and broader understanding of markets and
  stakeholders, including other industry players.
• Engagement with key contacts in government departments and agencies, including briefings on their future plans.
• Access to networking and development of business relationships within industry.

the threats and hazards facing the UK are wide-ranging and complex, and the technology industry is a vital stakeholder in meeting these challenges. Information is the key asset across defence and security, and the ability to collect, analyse, communicate and exploit it is critical to support the military, meet security threats and protect the UK. Intellect is working to improve the UK’s defence and security capability by:

• bringing innovation into the market
• supporting technology research and development
• improving procurement methods and processes
• opening the market to new sectors and models

• published contributions to parliamentary inquiries on UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle systems), security and resilience and defence spending
• held private forums with stakeholders from MoD, Home Office, DE&S (Defence Equipment & Support), Transport, UKTI/DESO and private infrastructure providers
• held the first technology industry ‘Security and Resilience Conference’ in 2007 – the second took place on 29 September 2008
• launched ‘International Defence and Security Council’ to improve members' links to foreign markets and policy

• Innovation in defence and security has created many of the technologies we depend on - computers, lasers, smoke alarms, the internet, radar, nuclear power, jet engines, thermal scanners, robotics and biological screening.
• The defence industry in the UK employs around 1 million people, or 1.6% of the UK population - by turnover it is the second largest sector in Britain.
• Together, the UK Government’s Defence and Security annual budgets are around £40 billion, not including transport security, civil contingencies and emergency services.
• A flu pandemic as severe as that of 1918 would cost the world economy an estimated $4.4 trillion and kill 142 million people without proper resilience preparation.