Steve Mallon – MD Cunning Running, geospatial solutions to search, protect and assess.

I’ve known of Cunning Running Software Ltd before the BattleLab was built at the Dorset Innovation Park and they were one of the first people I showed around when the workshop hangar was up.

They were then onboarded into the D3IP ecosystem as partners, ready to gain sight of MOD client challenges as they come through the Defence BattleLab, as well as calls from Law Enforcement and other security agencies.

Through my friend Corin Pegden, who also works at Cunning Running, I was introduced to Managing Director, Steve Mallon, and we discussed what they do and innovation as part of their products and business development.

This is just a very brief summary of the interview, so please do watch the view for much more in-depth answers.

What does Cunning Running do?

They have specialised geospatial mapping tools for mission critical situations for counter terrorism and military force protection. It helps the client to understand the threats around them, in a clear way without needing to understand the science behind it.

Who are your customers and sectors?

The military, who want to protect their bases and other assets.

Law enforcement, primarily with a counter terrorism perspective.

The tools also help clients with their search operations too.

What does innovation mean to you?

Innovation is not invention. Innovation is about bringing the components together, to perhaps create something that hasn’t existed before, even though the parts of it may have. It’s connecting up all the things that need to come together, to give something new and different, that solves a problem out there in the world.

How does collaboration fit into your working?

Using third party key providers of technologies and components certainly fit into that category.

The main element of collaboration is the relationship with the customer. The history of the product sets has been one of co-creation. All further developed with the changing threats and requirements of the clients. They also have good ideas but not knowing how they may be realised, but the company can go away and look for those components needed to address the needs. A continual and evolving process with the client.

Is the war in Ukraine changing some thinking in the company?

It has very much raised the profile of how serious the threat of drones can be. Before it may have been hobbyists that posed a threat, albeit causing issues but not too malign.

The evidence from Ukraine shows drones can be very effective tools in the hands of bad people. The threat profile and the interest in how they can be counteracted has been raised.

Research and Development grants, should more help be available for the development phase?

That’s the classic valley of death. Particularly true for those bringing radically new innovations to market.

The science and invention phase at the beginning may not cost very much but to bring it to production and become a well-established product that people can easily buy, that is the valley of death. Those funding routes are difficult to find.

For Cunning Running, it doesn’t affect their work as they co-create with the customer.

Steve covered other areas such as whether AI plays a role, the future roadmap and what recruitment needs they might have.

Thank you to Steve Mallon, Phil Cowell and Corin Pegden for making the time for my visit and interview.