The new EDGE UK® facility in Oakdale brings General Dynamics UK [GD], small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and academia together to develop innovative solutions to meet defense customer requirements.
The Oakdale facility builds upon the successes of the original EDGE UK that opened in 2008 at the company’s Newbridge site. The EDGE UK has completed over 100 collaborative projects with SMEs and academia in just over 2,000 days–that’s one project every four weeks, the company said.
The EDGE was initially developed by General Dynamics in the United States.
During the June 13 inauguration of the newest EDGE facility, two demonstrations were given by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who have undertaken recent collaborative projects at EDGE UK.
The first,
Spectra Group (UK), demonstrated its applique for VHF radios, called ‘Slingshot,’ that enables communications over a satellite connection.
The second demonstration by Quorate Technology showcased its Speech Recognition and Analysis Suite that unlocks information in recordings.
The EDGE UK projects examined both Spectra Group (UK) and Quorate Technology’s products’ interoperability with Bowman, the British Army’s tactical communications system that is delivered by General Dynamics UK.
EDGE UK provides a collaborative environment for Britain’s knowledge-based industries, including high-tech small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and academia, to join new equipment and software with existing defense communications and information technology systems.This makes for a speedy assessment and refinement of emerging capabilities for customers, in particular, the U.K. Armed Forces, the company said in a statement.
Andy Nicholson, head of the Center for Defense Enterprise, said: “Innovation within the defense industry is important to ensure that it continues to deliver the vital equipment that is relied upon by the UK Armed Forces.”
Steve Rowbotham, COO at General Dynamics UK, said: “EDGE UK enables SMEs to gain a competitive advantage in developing their innovations rapidly into capability that can be fielded with the UK Armed Forces. This new facility will continue to build upon past EDGE UK successes to provide the innovations required by the UK Armed Forces.”
More information on EDGE UK can be found here: www.the-edge-uk.co.uk.