Team Defence DI25: Pursuing Defence Innovation Panel Discussion

In this panel session, experts across the defence and technology sectors explore the cultural, structural and technological challenges surrounding innovation within the UK Ministry of Defence. The discussion delves into how the MOD can better adopt and scale innovation, drawing lessons from the private sector – particularly the value of agile methodologies, smaller organisations, and a product-led mindset. Panelists reflect on the cultural barriers to change, emphasising that many of the real obstacles are human rather than technical. They discuss how institutional inertia and siloed behaviours often hinder progress, even in environments where the technology is available and proven. 

The conversation also examines how academia and industry can partner more effectively to accelerate research and deliver impactful outcomes. This includes leveraging micro-innovations, engaging small teams and start-ups, and focusing on specific, actionable challenges such as AI risk and cybersecurity. Another key theme is the importance of modernising legacy systems, (both technically and culturally), with insights into how AI and automation are reshaping approaches to governance, data ownership and decision-making.  Throughout, there is a strong emphasis on the need to align with established industry standards rather than reinventing processes, and on the MOD’s potential to act as a powerful synthesiser of emerging innovation.