Engaging with Resilient World – market opportunities for SMEs
When:
09/10/2025
Time:
09:00 - 15:00
Where:
Isle of Wight
Grab a ticket:
Click here!
Join Innovate UK Business Connect and some other key regional stakeholders to explore defence & security innovation, funding, and SME opportunities in a fast-evolving landscape.
The programme framework:
09:00 Registration with a view to kicking off at around 09:30
09:30 Island Welcome from the IOW Business/Economic Growth team.
09:30 – Scene/Context Setting
Key messages from DASA and DSTL
Key messages from Innovate UK/Business Connect on Resilient World programme – Speaker confirmed (in principle)
Prime Defence Contractors and their gateway to collaborate with innovators (BAE Systems and Roke interested)
SME’s Perspective (An innovation journey in defence markets. Mainland based and Island SME interested)
11:00 Break
11:30 Innovate UK’s core support infrastructure
Bridge AI (Funding stream) – Speaker confirmed (in principle)
Sat Apps opportunities and Catapult overview – Speaker confirmed (in principle)
Regional Business Support through Business Growth – Speaker confirmed (in principle)
+ Unlocking international opportunities (Business Growth – Speaker confirmed (in principle))
Beyond Grant Funding (Innovation Loans and Investor Partnerships – Speaker confirmed (in principle)
Unlocking Direct Contract thought Innovate UK (Contracts for Innovation/iX/NZ Innovation Network) – Speaker confirmed
13:00 Lunch
14:00 The regions Network and innovation capability drivers
Uni of Portsmouth and Uni of Southampton gateways for industrial collaboration -(both invited)
S&E Regional Defence and Security Cluster – Speaker confirmed (in principle)
15:00 Key messages from the Chair – Networking.
