18/02/2025

Defence innovation champions network talk

By Gordon Fong

Sharon Jones, from Navy Engagement, asked me to present my findings to date from this ParkLife blog to the Defence Innovation Champions Network.

This web site wasn’t meant to be an academic study so I was a bit shy about saying yes. I had set out to learn about innovation spaces and processes, in a bid to provide input back into the Dorset Innovation Park where we have a site. Am certainly not an expert to be presenting to people in the BattleLab conference room, and 50 on Microsoft Teams.

As it was to show my journey and what I have seen and heard so far, then the only person that could do that was me. So, I said yes before my introvert voice kicks in too loudly.

There were many questions from the room and especially from Teams, which I found encouraging.

What have I found so far? These were the bullet points from my last slide.

Intellectual support
Financial support
R&D, funding the D
Local government, economic
drivers, programmes, cohorts
Central government, UK pillars
Businesses and entrepreneurial spirit

I will revisit and expand once I have done more visits.