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The demos were complimented with a live panel discussion on understanding tomorrow’s sustainability technology today, hosted by Victoria Doherty (Group Head of Electrification and Sustainable Solutions at QinetiQ). Panel members, Maj Imran Shaik (UK Ministry of Defence Strategic Command), Alex Barnett (UK Ministry of Defence Future Capability Group) and Mari Troskie (QinetiQ) discussed both the contribution of sustainability tech to defence operational advantage and how defence can gather evidence of its effectiveness before it is ready to implement. Jennifer Crago, Engagement Lead at the Home Office’s Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE), also shared her insights in a keynote on how climate change can lead to conflict.

A Broad Sample of Sustainability Tech

The lively interaction with innovators across organisational types and sectors highlights the benefits of QinetiQ’s collaboration with external partners to deepen and diversify our knowledge. QinetiQ has several teams working on sustainable development in defence, and they gave an overview of the work being conducted in this space, along with the visiting innovators. By partnering with these organisations, QinetiQ brings together our customers’ opportunities and challenges with technologies emerging in parallel sectors. We have a range of engagement models around this central principle: from collaborative exploration, development and reselling to engineering insights and services. Particular thanks go to our external partners: Flexotronix, Inition, Solus Power and Aurea Technologies.

Technologies included:

• Biodegradable plastics with potential to add indicators and electric components that can be recovered during recycling or disposal
• Mass-manufactured and reconfigurable diagnostics for pandemic preparedness, with developments in underlying technology including flexible printed circuits
• Flexible and printable batteries that enable power in formats and designs not previously possible
• Immersive collaborative technology to enable dispersed collaborative design and discussions
• Stealth wind turbines that open up new possibilities for locating wind generation without disrupting radar already deployed in locations in France
• Person-portable wind turbines with potential to extend freedom of movement
• Modular battery manufacture delivering localised secure battery supply chains as well as high performance batteries
• Hybrid-electric drive with benefits including manoeuvrability and future proofing of military vehicles, and
• Mobile electric vehicle charging with its potential to transform vehicle infrastructure options

Together these technologies offered a broad sample of developments from multiple sectors, all with potential to address emerging defence challenges.

Find out more about our partnerships
By partnering with these organisations, QinetiQ brings together our customers’ opportunities and challenges with technologies emerging in parallel sectors. We have a range of engagement models around this central principle: from collaborative exploration, development and reselling to engineering insights and services. Get in touch with us at innovation@qinetiq.com to find out how you can engage with these and other solution partners.