A new era for Defence Innovation: DASA, DIU and DE&S FCI unite under UK Defence Innovation (UKDI)
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-01)

The UK Defence Innovation organisation, (UKDI), represents a transformative step in consolidating our defence innovation ecosystem under a single, coherent operating model.

Marking its official launch, today, UKDI brings together previously separate innovation organisations including the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), Defence Innovation Unit (DIU), Command Innovation Hubs, and Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Future Capability Innovation (FCI), into a single, unified organisation. This new entity will accelerate the delivery of cutting-edge capabilities ensuring the UK remains secure at home and strong abroad and drive economic growth.

The organisation will strengthen whole-of-government coordination on innovation between the Ministry of Defence (MOD), Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and wider security departments, reducing duplication while supporting the government’s growth mission, National Security modernisation agenda, and the Defence Industrial Strategy.

This strategic consolidation marks a significant milestone in the UK’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge military technology at ‘wartime pace’, by providing the critical mechanism for defence to rapidly identify and procure innovative commercial products and services from the UK and allied countries, creating seamless pathways from innovation to procurement that support our national security foundations and economic growth objectives.

With a ringfenced annual budget of at least £400 million, UKDI will serve as an engine for growth in the defence, security, and dual-use technology sectors.

DASA, part of UKDI

Today DASA has become an integral part of UKDI, marking an exciting milestone in the evolution of defence innovation delivery in the UK.

Over the past 9 years, DASA has established itself as a key enabler of defence and security innovation, building strong expertise and partnerships across government, academia and industry. As part of UKDI, this foundation will be strengthened, creating a more streamlined approach to delivering cutting-edge technology into the hands of our armed forces faster. The integration supports UKDI’s mission to accelerate innovation, enhance military capability and drive economic growth across the UK defence and security sector.

Current DASA competitions, services, and partnerships will continue as normal as we transition into UKDI over the next 12 months. We remain committed to all of our stakeholders and to supporting the innovation journey every step of the way.

We are excited to bring our expertise and passion into UKDI, amplifying our impact, and expanding our reach, while maintaining the responsive collaborative approach our partners value. Same mission, greater scale! We look forward to continuing this journey together.

Timelines

From its official launch on 1 July 2025, UKDI will develop over the next 12 months, with further design, a carefully planned transition, and implementation work, to become fully operational by July 2026.

During this period, we will:
- Keep stakeholders informed of developments through regular updates.
- Provide transparent communication throughout this transition and welcome your continued partnership as we build this exciting new chapter in defence innovation.
Find out more about UK Defence Innovation. (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/launch-of-new-body-to-harness-innovative-tech-for-the-uks-armed-forces)