British Consulate-General Boston’s Post

I was in Rhode Island yesterday to speak to the Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium about AUKUS and the importance of close partnership with the defence industry. It was great to learn more from the companies at the conference about the remarkable advances happening in undersea technology. There is some fantastic cooperation on innovation taking place in the UK, US and Australia within the framework of AUKUS. One important mechanism for encouraging this innovation is the Maritime Innovation Challenge programme. The first challenge was launched in March 2024 and focused on electronic warfare. 173 qualified suppliers applied across the three countries – a real demonstration of the strength and depth of the defence innovation ecosystem. In September last year, the UK announced funding to four successful UK companies working on electromagnetic targeting and protection.  The second Maritime Innovation Challenge has just been launched by the UK's Defence and Security Accelerator and their counterparts in the US and Australia. The challenge is aiming to find innovations that enable the synchronisation and teaming of multiple undersea systems. Hopefully many of the companies in the room yesterday will take part. More details are here: https://lnkd.in/enxt5Ff6 British Consulate-General Boston Tripp Whalen