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Launched in 2007, the MIA’s Motorsport to Defence (M2D) initiative is aimed at helping motorsport companies engage with the defence industry and maximise the business opportunities between the two.
What have we achieved?
Since the initiative’s inception, the MIA has successfully worked with defence companies and trade shows. We strive to introduce our members and the motorsport industry at large to the defence sector.
At various venues such as Lockheed Martin, Thales, Selex-ES, General Dynamics, DE&S Abbey Wood, BAE Systems, ATDU Bovington and MIRA, we’ve organised ‘Showcases of Capability’. Members have had the opportunity to introduce their products and services to defence engineers and key decision makers. We also co-ordinate member visits to leading defence shows, including the DVD Show, and the DSEI Show.
Benefits gained by the defence industry
Both industries have benefited from the initiative but the defence sector in particular has been able to utilise motorsport’s unique skill set and expertise and find fast solutions to its engineering problems. Defence vehicles are aided by motorsport-derived radiators, charge coolers, gearboxes, brakes, suspension components and seals - all as a result of the MIA’s M2D Initiative. Likewise, Motorsport Valley® has been granted seasonally-variable revenue streams.
Nick Wills OBE - Defence Development Director
In February 2014, we appointed Nick Wills OBE as Defence Development Director. Awarded an OBE in 2005 for services to the army, Nick spent the last 10 years of his 30-year army career focusing on the acquisition process, and delivery, including trialling and acquiring land-based equipment and vehicles.
Under Nick’s direction, the M2D programme has gone from strength to strength, most notably through our in-house ‘Showcases of Capability’ events and Motorsport presence at DSEI and DVD.
Feedback from MIA Member Renvale after seeking advice from Nick Wills OBE on attending DSEI:
"Nick's wealth of experience and knowledge was super helpful and very insightful. Although we had already been to DSEI, we gleaned a lot about the show, how it works, the format, the sorts of people that attend - worth its weight in gold."
Useful defence website links
MOD Procurement Portal Doing business with defence: information for those looking to become a supplier or contractor.
Defence Contracts Online The official source of MOD contract opportunities. The Defence Sourcing Portal, the new e-sourcing platform and one-stop-shop for contract opportunities. tendering and information on doing business with the Ministry of Defence. This new tendering capability will be launched in February 2021. In readiness for the full launch, take the time to register on this platform.
National Defence Industries Association (NDI) NDI champions and celebrates the UK's defence and security industry. They represent the sector's interests to government and champion the innovative, global and dynamic industry to the public.
Athena Access defence science and technology research via a central repository and submit your own research.
Defence and Security Accelerator The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) finds and funds exploitable innovation to support UK defence and security quickly and effectively, and support UK prosperity. The vision is for the UK to maintain its strategic advantage over its adversaries through the most innovative defence and security capabilities in the world. DASA is a cross-government organisation, launched in December 2016 by the Secretary of State for Defence.
Materials & Structures Technology Programme (MAST) The MAST Programme brings together more than 80 organisations to deliver a cost-effective, coherent and integrated materials and structures research programme that addresses the specific needs of defence and security.
Upcoming activities
Our events calendar is updated regularly with new activities and events that we are hosting under our Motorsport to Defence Programme.
What value have you gained from the Motorsport to Defence Programme?
This video (published 2 February 2015) has MIA Members explaining the value they have gained from the Defence Showcase of Capabilities Programme.
For more information please contact Defence Development Director - Nick Wills on +44 (0) 7881 950 505 or email nick.wills@the-mia.com.
