A new EDA project aimed at understanding the different forces influencing innovation has just been launched. This initiative represents a first try to identify ways and means by which innovation activities could be more systematically managed in order to create additional value for the Agency and its stakeholders.
Fostering innovation is key in strengthening Europe’s defence capabilities as it has been clearly stated in the new EU Global Strategy (EUGS) and its implementation plan as well as in the European Commission’s European Defence Action Plan which emphasises the multidimensional role of innovation in defence.
In this context, innovation can be perceived as the creation and application of new products, services and processes. This includes the creation of a new technology, product, process or service, as well as the application of existing technology to a different problem or domain.
By introducing innovative technologies developed in other domains, both the initial investment risk and the time from ideation to military capability are minimized. Nevertheless, innovation is not only focused on the creation of new concepts. It also focuses on the value that the new concept will create for end-users. In this regard, innovation in the defence sector should aim at enhancing military capability.
The new project takes the form of two studies to be carried out by RAND Europe and Indra Systemas S.A respectively and dealing with different aspects of innovation. The project’s objectives are the following:
- Analysis of the current defence research innovation strategies and identification of best practice in terms of organisational structures, supporting policies and incentives for research innovation management
- Analysis of stakeholders, environment, specific defence requirements related to innovation and identification of appropriate organizational structures applicable to defence
- Identification of candidate technologies for innovation injection and preparation of scenarios for a follow on proof of concept
- Identification of innovation management methods and state-of-the-art practices, such as design thinking and transfer of knowledge to be used within the EDA’s research and innovation communities.
The kick-off meetings of both studies, which took place on 16th and 20th of January respectively, set the ground for a very promising project. The working teams have already discussed in depth the transformation of the objectives into tangible outcomes for the Member States in support to the European efforts of fostering innovation in defence.
The envisaged outputs will help EDA to provide better support to the innovation activities of Member States as well as those innovation actions foreseen under the Preparatory Action for Defence Research and the future European Defence Research Programme.
The kick-off meeting was attended by EDA and staff from the aforementioned contractors. The project is led by Dr. Panagiotis Kikiras Head of Unit Innovative Research.