The Defence Growth Partnership (DGP) is a partnership between the UK Government and the British defence industry. It is jointly led by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Defence Industry, with "the support of the Ministry of Defence as the UK customer". It is endorsed by the Prime Minister, David Cameron and co-chaired by Steve Wadey, QinetiQ CEO and the Minister for Business and Enterprise, Matthew Hancock. The DGP was first announced at Farnborough Airshow in 2012.
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Aims of the Partnership
The Defence Growth Partnership Website states:
"We are working in partnership to secure a truly competitive, sustainable and globally successful UK Defence Sector that provides affordable leading-edge capability and through-life support for our Armed Forces and international customers, as well as bringing wider economic benefits to the UK."
British defence companies have been working within the partnership to address issues such as shortage of engineers; draw up a strategy on how to increase defence exports; and set priorities for the Defence Sector.
Centre For Maritime Intelligent Systems
As part of the DGP initiative a Centre for Maritime Intelligent Systems (CMIS) was announced in July 2014. CMIS is a £4m defence research centre, based at the Portsdown Technology Park in Portsmouth. The centre will bring together academics, scientists, engineers and naval specialists to research unmanned marine systems. The centre was officially opened on 17 November 2014 by Matthew Hancock, MP
Defence Solutions Centre
As part of the DGP a UK Defence Solutions Centre was opened in Farnborough in 2015.