Plextek awarded the first MoD “Competition of Ideas” contract

Plextek's electronics design services include:FPGA design, ESCAN Radar, MMIC design, GPRS design, Communications product design, Microwave design Defence electronics, Electronic product design, RF design, DSP design, Telemetry system, System Integration,Communications system design, Due diligence

Press Release

Plextek awarded the first MoD “Competition of Ideas” contract

SME given approx. £300k to research innovative convoy communications

Issued 30/07/2007

Plextek Limited, the Cambridge-based electronics and communications design consultancy has been awarded approximately £300,000 by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) in the first contract awarded by its “Competition of Ideas” initiative. The contract permits Plextek to research an MoD proposal for innovative technology which will allow improved communications between military vehicles and convoys.

Lord Drayson, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, announced the Plextek contract at last week’s “Engaging the Supply Network in DIS” conference. He commented: “The Competition of Ideas aims to encourage innovation in defence technology, and to help SMEs engage with the MoD. I look forward to seeing the results of Plextek’s research, which I hope will bring innovative solutions to the MoD as the customer. This technology could allow vehicles to share information on their position and cargo status with other vehicles in the convoy as well as transmitting the data back to base, all using very low cost, low power technology with little chance of intercept. This would make a real difference to the military and civilian drivers that provide logistical support to UK forces.”

Ian Murphy, Technical Director, at Plextek comments: “The Competition of Ideas initiative set out to tap the great talent in the UK SME sector and Plextek is delighted to have been awarded this contract. Being the first contract to have been selected by the MoD is a great achievement and validation of our experience and expertise in developing innovative technologies.”

The Competition of Ideas, launched as part of the Defence Technology Strategy in October 2006, challenged the entire UK Science and Technology community to offer their innovative ideas to solve some of today’s most pressing defence issues. The MoD is funding the best ideas as part of its broad research programme.

The Defence Technology Strategy aims to open up defence research to new suppliers and the Competition of Ideas attracted over 450 proposals from a diverse range of UK suppliers. These covered the complete spectrum of the UK technology base, with over half of the proposals submitted by universities and SMEs.

Further contracts from the Competition of Ideas will be announced by the MoD by the end of July.