Collaboration
21. The MoD's memorandum states that Dstl has an
extensive network of worldwide contacts in the military, academia
and industry which it uses to ensure that the MoD is aware of,
and has access to, the very latest developments in science and
technology.[40] Examples
of collaboration are:
- a network of links with other
Government Laboratories. The Inter Lab Forum is a partnership
of the six UK Public Sector Research Laboratories. The Forum is
seen as a way of ensuring that Government scientists can work
together better across a range of work, but particularly in responding
to emergencies;
- Co-operative Research Centres (CRCs) in UK universities,
which facilitate the exchange of staff and pooling of resources
between Dstl and its academic partners;
- Dstl has played a leading role in establishing
an international network to assist with the scientific investigation
of terrorism; and
- the Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration
(CWID) which Dstl hosts annually. CWID is designed to demonstrate
emerging technologies for Command, Control, Communications and
Computers (C4) and Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition
and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) systems and improve interoperability
between coalition nations.[41]
22. Dstl's Annual Report and Accounts 2005-06 provides
further examples of international research collaboration involving
Dstl. It participates in some 20 fora spanning the main European
nations, the US, Australia and Canada. Dstl has played a role
in forging a new UK/US initiative, the International Technology
Alliance, which will facilitate joint technology development across
UK and US governments, industrial and academic laboratories. Dstl
is also involved in laboratory-to-laboratory partnerships with
other countries such as France.[42]
Dr Saunders told us that, based on the amount of activity, the
most important international partners were the US and the other
nations in The Technical Co-operation Programme (TTCP) activity
(Canada, Australia and New Zealand).[43]
23. We asked what was the objective of international
collaboration. Dr Saunders told us that the policy and objectives
for international research collaboration was set by the MoD. Dstl's
role was
to help the MoD get gearing from the international
research collaboration so they can get access to more knowledge
through information exchange, and so on, than they would be able
to get if all they did was fund the work in the UK.[44]
International collaboration also ensured that there
was an element of Government-to-Government peer review, which
allowed Dstl to test out its ideas against other scientists in
government laboratories who perhaps had a different perspective.[45]
24. Dstl
has been proactive in networking with other organisations involved
in defence research in the UK and overseas. International collaboration
in defence research offers substantial benefits to the UK. For
Dstl to be able to continue to collaborate with the US and other
nations, it is vital that the UK provides sufficient research
funding for Dstl to retain its current position and continue to
be regarded as a worthwhile collaborative partner.
9