Exploitation

CDE connects innovators to other parts of the MOD. Proposals received by CDE will be assessed by government experts drawn from across the MOD covering all aspects of defence. The CDE will discuss proposals with the appropriate MOD stakeholder for potential inclusion in defence programmes.

CDE directly supports early stage proposals seeking initial seedcorn or proof of concept funding. Success via the CDE could potentially attract investment from other sources (such as Business Angels or Venture Capitalists) to support development, production and sales and encouraged by the opportunity to enter the £16Bn pa market for supplying the UK Armed Forces. Any eventual products developed from CDE proposals would enter the normally competitive acquisition cycle or supply chain.

Successful concepts which are relatively immature technology may be supported by the MOD's research programme, which is defined by the objectives in the Defence Technology Plan (DTP). More mature technology could be considered for entry into the main stream equipment programme and discussed with military customers and the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support organisation. Opportunities with high immediate operational impact may be quickly dealt with as an “urgent operational requirement” and fast tracked through the acqusition process to the frontline.