Military operation

The

(DDA) was set up by the MoD in 1999 to promote the spread of technology between the civil and defence sectors. Today it is a leading, demand-led, technology-transfer consulting group that has helped more than 6,000 companies throughout the UK.

Each of the 27 regional DDA offices has a technology transfer manager whose role is to help businesses access defence science and technology for growth. They also help companies with innovative technology find their way into the MoD, defence sector and other parts of government to commercialise their products.

Businesses need to become more innovative in order to survive and prosper in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Small- and medium-sized enterprises in particular are hard pressed to meet day-to-day requirements and rarely have the time to think about the future.

DDA's Technology Opportunity Study (Tops) programme is establishing a track record for helping companies resolve today's problems and identify opportunities for future products and processes such as launching a new product or service, or breaking into a new market. In effect, it meets companies and encourages them to stop and think.