FOI_25-187 Defence and security funded research
Date of response: 15 July 2025
We have now considered your request of 23 June 2025 for the following information:
Please provide the following information for the University of East Anglia for the past five financial years (2020/21 to 2024/25):
Question 1. Defence/Security Research Funding
Has the University of East Anglia received research grants or contracts from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), or other UK government defence or security agencies (such as DASA, NCSC, or the Home Office) in the past five financial years (2020/21–2024/25)?
Clarification received: 23 June 2025:
… for information held by your Research and Innovation Services department only….
Could you confirm whether the initial request could be considered if it was brought down in scope to only question 1 and 2 [and for information held by your Research and Innovation Division only], within the following:
For question 1, please search against:
Ministry of Defence (MOD)
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl)
Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA)
National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
Defence Intelligence (DI)
Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S)
Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)
Defence Medical Services (DMS)
Defence Aviation Safety Authority (DASAV)
Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO)
Strategic Command (StratCom)
National Crime Agency (NCA)
Our response:
Yes, our Research and Innovation Division has received research grants and/or contracts during the requested period.
Question 1.a. If yes, please provide:
- The total value of funding received.
Our response:
£101,516.05.
- The names of the funding bodies and the departments or research groups involved.
Our response:
The funding bodies were Home Office, Ministry of Defence, National Cyber Security Centre, and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.
The departments involved were School of Biological Sciences, School of Computing Sciences and our Student Services.
- The typical duration of these grants or contracts.
Our response:
One year.
- Whether any of these grants or contracts have funded PhD studentships, doctoral training programmes, or Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) in defence, security, or dual-use research.
Our response:
One.
If so, please specify the number of PhD students supported, the research groups involved, and the topics or themes funded.
Our response:
One Student from School of Biological Sciences. The theme was Bioelectronics.
Question 2. Defence Industry Partnerships
Does the University of East Anglia collaborate with defence primes (e.g., BAE Systems, QinetiQ, Rolls-Royce), SMEs, or public sector organisations (e.g., UK Armed Forces, NATO) on defence or security research or innovation?
If yes, please provide:
- The names of partner organisations.
- Examples of projects or focus areas.
Clarification received: 23 June 2025:
For question 2, please search against the following:
Royal Navy,
British Army, R
oyal Air Force,
UK Space Agency (UKSA),
National Cyber Force (NCF),
Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) and Defence Battlelab (Dorset) for public, and for private Airbus, Babcock International,
BAE Systems,
Boeing,
Chemring,
General Dynamics,
L3Harris Technologies,
Leonardo UK,
Lockheed Martin,
Northrop Grumman,
Serco Defence,
QinetiQ,
Rolls-Royce PLC,
Thales,
MDBA.
Our response:
On this occasion it is not possible to provide any of the requested information. In line with your rights under section 1(1)(a) of the Act to be informed whether information is held, we confirm that the University does not hold any recorded information for any collaborations with defence primes or public sector organisations on defence or security research or innovation. There are no collaborations with any of the listed companies where the research activity is related to defence or security, nor does the work pertain to dual-use technology.
Question 3. Commercialisation Activity
In the past five financial years:
- How many spin-out companies has the University of East Anglia created where it retains equity (based on university-owned IP)?
Please give information on any defence focused or dual-use spin-out companies.
Our response:
10. No spin-out companies are defence focused or dual-use.
- How many licensing agreements has the University of East Anglia executed for defence, security, or dual-use technologies?
Our response:
None.
- Does the University of East Anglia track revenue generated from defence, security, or dual-use IP commercialisation? If yes, please provide figures.
Our response:
No/not applicable.
Question 4. Regional/National Clusters
Is the University of East Anglia part of any defence, security, or dual-use innovation clusters, consortia, or networks (e.g., Regional Defence Clusters, Space Clusters, Cyber Resilience Centres)?
Our response:
Yes.
If yes, please list them and describe your role (e.g., lead, partner).
Our response:
Space East, cluster partner: https://spaceeast.co.uk/about-the-cluster/