Defence Online

A new report has revealed that companies funded by the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) have generated nearly £1Bn in economic value and created over 1,800 jobs across the UK.

The independent research, conducted by Beauhurst, demonstrates how DASA’s support for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is delivering significant benefits for both national security and economic growth.

Key findings from the report include:

• DASA-funded innovators have generated £972 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) between 2019 and 2023
• Companies that received DASA funding secured an additional £592 M in equity investment
• 1,842 new jobs created by DASA-funded businesses
• DASA-funded firms raised £174 million in 2024 alone

DASA leverages science and technology expertise from Dstl to fast track innovative ideas towards impact. The report highlights DASA’s evolution from simply finding and funding innovation to providing comprehensive support for the businesses behind the innovations, helping them grow and scale their technologies.

Innovation collaboration drives success

Anita Friend, Head of DASA said: “The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is proud to be a key enabler for innovation. This Beauhurst report demonstrates DASA’s real-world impact on UK defence, security and economic growth, and highlights the importance of DASA’s work.”

Regional Impact

The research also reveals DASA’s significant regional reach, with funded companies spread across the UK, helping to drive economic growth in all nations and regions.

Many DASA-funded SMEs are now actively engaged in both domestic and international markets, demonstrating the broad scope of support DASA offers and the global relevance of UK defence and security innovation.

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