The CDE team

Online and in touch

CDE is primarily an internet-based service, but they are determined not to be faceless and unapproachable. As one of the key figures, Manu Bhardwaj is keen to stress that he and his colleagues can be easily contacted for information and advice. He believes that this is an important part of their role to develop relationships with new and existing customers. “It is crucial that we work together and learn from each other as we bring in more people to add to our supplier base.”

Asked about their first year in business Bhardwaj is confident: “Our success has not been a surprise as we were convinced from the beginning that this was the right model. The support and enthusiasm that we have had from those who have used the online process and especially those who are new to MOD is very rewarding and now we want to go forward and improve on the structure and some other areas.”

He recently hosted one of a regular series of workshops at Harwell offering tips and guidance to potential applicants to help them make the best of the online system. These are well-attended and gave users who had already experienced the online system a chance to give feedback on how it is working. CDE are aware that with almost a full year under their belts it is time to push forward to the next stage.

Asked for tips on how to successfully apply he stresses that CDE is looking for innovation and that clarity and brevity are important: “We are happy to advise on the structure of a proposal. If someone has a good idea that will fit in with our requirements we can guide them through the process if they get in touch. We do not require long reports but it is worthwhile to consider whether it will fit in with our requirements and what the exploitation route will be.” He explains that they are looking for how a proposal will fit in with existing work and whether or not it is relevant to current requirements.

Making a point

So, how are proposals assessed? “When they come in, they are given an immediate initial assessment which is why it is important to be clear on the key points. We are looking for innovation - the cutting-edge, groundbreaking technology or application that will go on to make a real difference.”

All proposals are assessed within the Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) which provides a common framework across the whole MOD Research Programme. The framework gives guidelines for assessing supplier proposals for research, assessment of ongoing work and performance assessment for completed projects. Assessors are drawn from across the MOD, including Defence Science and Technology Laboratories (Dstl) and the Defence Scientific Advisory Council (DSAC), which is a nondepartmental public body of MOD.

In-depth knowledge of MOD means that the CDE team can decide on the right assessment route for each individual proposal ensuring that each one is given individual consideration. “The time spent on assessment is tailored to the value and complexity of the proposal, with the simpler and lower value proposals receiving a more rapid assessment. Proposals for funding over £100,000 require more consideration so lower value applications for less than £60,000 are likely to receive a quicker decision,” says Bhardwaj.

When the question of Intellectual Property Rights is raised (and this is a topic that suppliers often query) he is quick to reassure: “The normal arrangement is that the research provider owns the IPR, whilst MOD retains ‘user rights’.”

MOD follows UK government policy on IPR which is detailed in DEFCON 705 (Intellectual Property Rights, Research and Technology) which vests ownership of the intellectual property with research providers. This means that research can be more rapidly exploited which is actively encouraged by MOD, both in defence and for commercial applications.

Another advantage of the online system is that a proposal can be tracked so that everyone knows exactly what part of the process has been reached at any time. This is all part of the CDE ethos of providing a fast, reactive service to encourage faster pull-through of technology.

Bhardwaj is confident that they will continue to attract innovators and entrepreneurs bringing innovation and new energy into the defence market.