SBAC to Manage Aerospace and Defence KTN

(December 10, 2007) -- The Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) has today announced that it is has been chosen by the Technology Strategy Board to manage an Aerospace and Defence Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN). The KTN will help promote innovation and collaboration across industry, Government and academia, helping to improve industrial performance and implement the National Aerospace Technology Strategy (NATS).

Ian Godden, SBAC Chief Executive said, "SBAC is delighted to have been awarded the contract to run the Aerospace and Defence KTN. It provides a great opportunity to leverage the knowledge, experience and contacts we have across the aerospace and defence sector. A strong and successful KTN will help industry maximise its competitiveness by promoting collaboration and innovation around the themes and priorities in the National Aerospace Technology Strategy and Defence Technology Strategy."


Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) are national networks of technical experts and other interested parties, designed to improve the UK's innovation performance byincreasing and accelerating the knowledge transfer of technology into UK-based businesses. Their activities play an increasingly an important role in the development of the Government's Technology Strategy, and help to feed and drive the Collaborative Research & Development programme and other innovation interventions.

The priorities for the new Aerospace and Defence KTN will include:
- To deliver improved industrial performance through innovation and new collaboration maximising the impact of new research and technology and better co-ordination of resources for the delivery of the NATS.
- To make the UK a more globally competitive environment for investment in aerospace and defence research and technology.
- To facilitate innovation and knowledge transfer across the civil and defence sectors and closer collaboration between academia, industry and the Ministry of Defence.
- To improve coherency and effectiveness of industry in science, technology and innovation towards Government supported by more rigorous analysis and technology road-mapping.

The Aerospace and Defence KTN will be jointly funded by the Technology Strategy Board and the Ministry of Defence. It will be based in SBAC's offices in central London and began operation on 1 December 2007. SBAC will be recruiting a dedicated team to run the KTN and support the implementation of the NATS.

Source : SBAC