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Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

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Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
File:Dstl.svg
Agency overview
Formed 2 July 2001
Preceding agency
Jurisdiction United Kingdom
Headquarters Porton Down, Wiltshire
Employees 3,636 (2009/10 average)
Agency executive
Parent agency Ministry of Defence
Website http://www.dstl.gov.uk

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is a trading fund of the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom. Responsibility for Dstl lies with the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, currently Philip Dunne.[1] The Dstl Board is chaired by Sir Richard Mottram.[2] Dstl's stated purpose is "to maximise the impact of science and technology for the defence and security of the UK".[3]

History[]

In July 2001, the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) was split into two parts, Dstl and QinetiQ. Dstl was established to carry out science and technology work that is best done within government,[4] while the majority and that suitable for industry was transferred to QinetiQ, initially a wholly owned government company before being floated on the stock exchange.

Organisation[]

Dstl is a trading fund owned by the Secretary of State for Defence. Most funding comes from the Ministry of Defence, although a small portion comes from other government departments and commercial sources. According to 2009/10 figures, around 89% of Dstl's income comes from MOD. The remaining 11% of income comes from other government departments (64%) and non-exchequer sources (36%).[5]

From Dstl's creation in 2001, the Chief Executive was Martin J Earwicker until he left in 2006 for the Science Museum.[6] Dr. Frances Saunders took over as acting Chief Executive in May 2006[7] and was appointed as Chief Executive in August 2007.[8][9] On 29 June 2011, Dr Saunders announced to the staff that her post had been advertised and that she would not be applying.[10] On 13 December 2011 the MOD announced that Jonathan Lyle, currently Director of the Programme Office at Dstl, would replace Dr Saunders in March 2012.[11]

Dstl consists of the following operational departments:[5]

  • Air and Weapons Systems
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Detection
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Information Management
  • Joint Systems
  • Land Battlespace Systems
  • Naval Systems
  • Physical Sciences
  • Policy and Capability Studies
  • Security Sciences
  • Sensors and Countermeasures

Operations[]

Dstl carries out a broad range of work from high-level analysis to support Ministry of Defence policy and procurement decisions, to technical research in defence areas such as biomedical science and electronics, alongside operational work such as forensic analysis of explosives[12] and providing (paid volunteer) scientists to Iraq and Afghanistan to provide rapid scientific advice to British forces. It has done work for around 40 other government departments and agencies including the Home Office and Department for Transport.[13] Dstl undertakes research with both industry and academia to achieve its role.[14]

Following a review and consultation process initiated by MOD's Chief Scientific Advisor, Dstl become responsible for the formulation and commission of all of MOD's non-nuclear research programme, from 1 Apr 2010, under the responsibility of the DST Programme Office.[15][16] Within the Programme Office are 16 domains [17] with some established as Science and Technology Centres, including Armour and Protection, Cyber and Influence, Counter Terrorism, and CBR (Chemical, Biological and Radiological).[18] These centres fund research via the Centre for Defence Enterprise,[19] also part[20] of the Programme Office.

Current locations[]

Dstl's current sites include:

  • Alverstoke, Hampshire (as a tenant of the Institute of Naval Medicine)
  • Fort Halstead, Kent (until 2016)[21]
  • Porton Down, Wiltshire (headquarters)
  • Portsdown West, Hampshire
  • Harwell, Oxfordshire (within the science and innovation campus)

Spin-offs[]

Ploughshare Innovations[]

In April 2005[22] the technology transfer company Ploughshare Innovations Ltd was formed in order to manage and exploit the intellectual property within Dstl.[23] Dstl and Ploughshare Innovations has successfully spun-out several new companies including Acolyte Biomedica Ltd (since acquired by 3m Medical Diagnostics Ltd), Alaska Food Diagnostics Ltd,[24] Enigma Diagnostics Ltd, Lucigen Ltd, ProKyma Technologies Ltd, Sherwood Therapeutics and P2i Ltd.

See also[]

  • The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP) – An international defence science and technology collaboration between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
  • DARPA – A US Defence Agency responsible for the development of new technology for use by the US military.
  • Defence Science and Technology Organisation – A branch of the Australian Department of Defence which researches and develops technologies for use in the Australian defence industry.
  • Qinetiq - Qinetiq was formed from the privatised part of the former UK government agency, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) in June 2001 (with the remainder of DERA renamed as Dstl).

Notes and references[]

  1. ↑ "Cabinet Office: List of Ministerial Responsibilities". 2011 [last update]. http://interim.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/416777/lmr100701.pdf. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
  2. ↑ "Dstl Board". Dstl. https://www.dstl.gov.uk/dstlboard. Retrieved 21 October 2013. 
  3. ↑ "About us | dstl | Defence Science and Technology Laboratory". dstl.gov.uk. 2011 [last update]. http://www.dstl.gov.uk/pages/117. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
  4. ↑ http://www.dstl.gov.uk/downloads/framework.pdf
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://www.dstl.gov.uk/downloads/annual_reports_accounts10.pdf
  6. ↑ "MoD searches for a new James Bond-style Q | Mail Online". dailymail.co.uk. London. 2011 [last update]. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-395888/MoD-seaches-new-James-Bond-style-Q.html. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
  7. ↑ "House of Commons - Defence - Minutes of Evidence". parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk. 2011 [last update]. http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmdfence/84/6112802.htm. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
  8. ↑ http://www.dstl.gov.uk/downloads/15-08-07.pdf
  9. ↑ Gilbert, Natasha (20 November 2007). "Interview: Frances Saunders | Education | The Guardian". The Guardian. London: GMG. ISSN 0261-3077. OCLC 60623878. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2007/nov/20/highereducationprofile.academicexperts. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
  10. ↑ Global email to all staff dated 29/6/11
  11. ↑ "Jonathan Lyle named as new Dstl Chief Executive". Ministry of Defence. MOD. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/DefencePolicyAndBusiness/JonathanLyleNamedAsNewDstlChiefExecutive.htm. Retrieved 22 December 2011. 
  12. ↑ Gardham, Duncan (11 July 2007). "'We've never seen a bomb like 21/7 devices' - Telegraph". The Daily Telegraph. London: TMG. ISSN 0307-1235. OCLC 49632006. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1557106/Weve-never-seen-a-bomb-like-217-devices.html. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
  13. ↑ http://www.dstl.gov.uk/pages/133
  14. ↑ http://www.dstl.gov.uk/pages/137
  15. ↑ "The Strategic Defence and Security Review and The National Security Strategy". publications.parliament.uk. 2011 [last update]. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmselect/cmdfence/writev/761/nns45.htm. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
  16. ↑ "Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Defence Policy and Business | Dstl to become the key focus of science and technology within MOD". mod.uk. 2011 [last update]. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/DefencePolicyAndBusiness/DstlToBecomeTheKeyFocusOfScienceAndTechnologyWithinMod.htm. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
  17. ↑ http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/bispartners/ukspaceagency/docs/space%20science/aurora/knowledge-exchange-april-2011/gibson-dstl-presentation.pdf
  18. ↑ http://www.dstl.gov.uk/pages/173
  19. ↑ "Centre for Defence Enterprise". science.mod.uk. 2011 [last update]. http://www.science.mod.uk/engagement/enterprise.aspx. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
  20. ↑ "The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl)". science.mod.uk. 2011 [last update]. http://www.science.mod.uk/engagement/dstl.aspx. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
  21. ↑ DSTL Press Release dated 17/6/2011 http://www.dstl.gov.uk/downloads/Dstl_Fort_Halstead.pdf
  22. ↑ "House of Commons - Defence - Eighth Report". publications.parliament.uk. 2007 [last update]. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmdfence/84/8409.htm. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
  23. ↑ "Ploughshare Innovations - Intellectual Property Licensing for Dstl - Ploughshare". ploughshareinnovations.com. 2011 [last update]. http://www.ploughshareinnovations.com/. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
  24. ↑ Stewart, Heather (4 May 2004). "MoD tries to turn swords into shares | Business | The Guardian". The Guardian. London: GMG. ISSN 0261-3077. OCLC 60623878. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2004/may/04/politics.themilitary. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 

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