The wait for Defence Procurement, Research, Technology & Exportability (DPRTE) 2019, taking place today at Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre is over. Here, Defence Online editor, Matt Brown, takes a look at what’s on offer at this must-attend showcase.
Buyers, suppliers and thought leaders in the defence realm will come together in an engaging environment where they can network and discuss the latest market developments and opportunities.
DPRTE 2019 is designed to strengthen links and communication between the Ministry of Defence, its prime contractors and the entire defence supply chain.
Attendees will have access to the DPRTE Product Showcase Exhibition (featuring over 100 suppliers), Live Keynote Arena, five Knowledge Transfer Zones and seven Networking and Collaboration Zones.
Live Keynote Arena
The DPRTE 2019 Live Keynote Arena will host some of the leading and most influential speakers from across the defence procurement and supply chain marketplace.
Attendees will have an invaluable opportunity to hear directly from those personnel who are actively engaged in both setting and delivering the direction of the UK’s defence procurement and supply chain strategy.
Chairing the Live Keynote Arena this year once again will be Commercial Strategies Ltd CEO and former Ministry of Defence Commercial Director Les Mosco.
Kicking things off will be Jim Carter, Commercial Director, Supply Chain at the Ministry of Defence. He will be followed by Dr Lucy Mason, Head of the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) and Jacqui Rock, Commercial Director at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).
Professor Trevor Taylor, Professorial Research Fellow in Defence Management at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), will then give his take on the role of AI within defence acquisition. Tracy Buckingham, Head of Operations and Security Exports at the Department for International Trade’s Defence & Security Organisation (DIT DSO), will follow with an overview of defence and security exports.
Bringing things to a close will be Soldier, Adventurer, Leader – Ant Middleton, best known for his role as Chief Instructor on the hit TV show ‘SAS: Who Dares Wins’. Ant will deliver a session on leadership and teambuilding.
DPRTE 2019 will host five unique Knowledge Transfer Zones designed specifically to enhance the knowledge and skills of all attendees, both buyers and suppliers, who are engaged within the defence acquisition supply chain:
Doing Business With the US Department of Defense Zone
Following its highly successful first appearance in 2018, the Doing Business With the US Department of Defense Zone will be back to provide interactive sessions designed to equip organisations with the insight and knowledge they need to develop business opportunities in the United States. The US defence market is the largest in the world with a proposed defence procurement budget of over $686 billion for the forthcoming financial year.
Representatives from DoD will be on hand to provide advice and guidance on how to access the wealth of opportunities available within the world’s largest defence procurement marketplace through a range of training sessions and one–to–one meetings.
Technology & Innovation Knowledge Transfer Zone
The UK’s Defence Science and Technology (DST) programme provides organisations of all sizes with a route to market and potential funding options and actively encourages innovation in order to attract new and non-traditional suppliers into all levels of the defence supply chain.
The Technology & Innovation Knowledge Transfer Zone will host a series of training sessions aimed at providing participants with an insight into the latest developments and opportunities in this area.
These CPD Certified sessions will encourage a greater level of collaboration with industry, academia and allies, in order to target new providers to boost the competitive advantage of UK defence and find answers to the most pressing national security questions from across sectors.
Supply Chain & Partnering Knowledge Transfer Zone
In the MOD report ‘Industry for Defence and a Prosperous Britain: Refreshing Defence Industrial Policy’, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson confirmed that the MOD would continue to spend with SMEs. The report states that the goal is to place 25% of direct and indirect defence procurement spend with SMEs by 2020.
The Supply Chain & Partnering Knowledge Transfer Zone will provide attendees with the chance to hear directly from prime contracting and supporting organisations such as Airbus, Boeing and DXC Technology as to how they can engage and actively pursue new business development opportunities across the wider supply chain.
The zone will also feature a highly anticipated session from the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) in collaboration with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.
Export & Business Growth Knowledge Transfer Zone
Supported by the Department for International Trade, the Export & Business Growth Knowledge Transfer Zone will provide exhibitors and visitors with specialist export advice and practical assistance, enabled through DIT’s Defence & Security Organisation and its close working relationship with the MOD and the Export Control Organisation (ECO).
BiP DPRTE 2018
Delegates have the opportunity to visit the DIT DSO stand to meet civilian and military advisers and to attend a number of seminar sessions aimed at the UK SME defence and security community.
Buyer Excellence in Procurement Knowledge Transfer Zone
In addition to accessing this wealth of industry expertise, DPRTE attendees can also visit the Buyer Excellence in Procurement Knowledge Transfer Zone, where Principal PASS Consultant Eddie Regan will be leading on procurement best practice and advice which defence buyers can utilise to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their procurement exercises.
DPRTE 2019 also contains seven Networking and Collaboration Zones offering attendees a chance to meet and discuss buyer and supplier opportunities, share best practice, expand their knowledge and create new peer contacts:
Product Showcase Exhibition
The Product Showcase Exhibition will provide organisations of all sizes with a unique opportunity to showcase their products and services directly to those key decision makers who are actively engaged within the defence acquisition supply chain.
Visitors will have the opportunity to meet directly with the UK’s leading defence suppliers, who will be demonstrating a vast range of innovative solutions designed to meet today’s evolving market needs and future requirements.
BiP DPRTE 2018
The Showcase will also provide a networking and engagement platform for organisations to foster and develop new collaborative partnerships that, through working together, create opportunities for business growth.
Supply Chain Engagement Zone
The Ministry of Defence is committed to enabling SMEs and non-traditional suppliers to bid for defence and security contracts more easily.
One important element in achieving this is through the MOD working with its prime contractors in order to maximise opportunities for the marketplace through transparency of supply chain competition.
The DPRTE 2019 Supply Chain Engagement Zone brings together many of the key prime contractors currently engaged within the delivery of MOD projects, allowing visitors to book appointments for one-to-one meetings. Delegates can also visit the Supply Chain & Partnering Zone, which will see some of the prime contractors deliver sessions on the supply chain opportunities available on current and future projects.
Defence Procurement Pavilion
The Defence Procurement Pavilion sees key organisations such as Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), Information Systems and Services (ISS), DIO and the Front Line Commands (Royal Navy, Army and RAF) brought together in a central area to create a unique networking opportunity and offer the chance to share and explore the ideas and best practices that are actively supporting and developing current objectives and initiatives.
BiP DPRTE 2018
Innovation Zone
Innovation is a key theme within the defence industry as the MOD seeks to leverage technology to establish a military advantage. The Innovation Zone hosts key organisations such as the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), SBRI / Innovate UK, techUK and Cranfield University, who will be on hand to offer guidance on potential funding options and bringing products and services to the defence and security marketplace.
Defence Market Engagement Zone
The UK’s defence procurement marketplace is valued at over £20 billion annually. To ensure you’re making the most of this massive revenue opportunity, it’s vital to keep ahead of the competition by gaining an ongoing insight into the latest developments, initiatives and opportunities in the market.
The Defence Market Engagement Zone provides a platform to interact with a range of solutions focused on helping your business gain that all–important first–mover advantage.
International Exporting Zone
The UK is the second largest global defence exporter, commanding approximately 12% of the export market, according to DIT DSO statistics.
The International Exporting Zone, supported by DIT DSO, will allow delegates to meet with representatives from some of the largest overseas defence markets, with a view to exporting their products or services. Learn more about how your organisation can gain a share of this marketplace worth around £9 billion.
US DoD Engagement Zone
The United States Department of Defense’s enduring mission is to provide combat-credible military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of the nation. Its National Defense Strategy acknowledges an increasingly complex global security environment, characterised by overt challenges to the free and open international order.
Book now at www.dprte.co.uk/book-now
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Post written by: Matt Brown
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