Tagged / synthetic biology

Synthetic Biology Applications in Defence – Multi-million pound competition

Funding opportunities

MOD’s Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE) is launching a multi-million pound competition for research proposals for highly innovative synthetic biology approaches applicable to the defence and security sectors.

 Synthetic biology has the potential to address several difficult challenges facing UK defence and security. It could provide new ways to protect both the armed forces and civilian populations.

The purpose of this CDE themed competition for short-term, proof-of-concept research proposals is to reach out to all sectors for cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research through the application of existing synthetic biology tools and techniques, but using novel research approaches.

The scope of this competition is deliberately broad and non-prescriptive to encourage novel ideas applicable to land, air or maritime environments.  Areas where synthetic biology could contribute to defence and security include, but are not limited to:

  • protection of personnel or equipment
  • sensor technologies to detect chemicals, such as explosives, forces, such as gravity, or to indicate physical status, such as integrity
  • materials exhibiting unique properties or added functionality
  • decontamination approaches
  • camouflage solutions including noise and emission reduction.

For further details visit the website.