Launched today (13 July) by Defence Minister Luke Pollard MP, the UK Defence Universities Alliance (DUA) will create a thriving network of defence research expertise and drive a highly-skilled workforce across the UK.
The alliance is a long-term collaboration between the MOD, the UK Armed Forces, the Office of the Chief Scientific Advisor for National Security, and the higher education sector. It will help defence and academia work together across research, skills and developing the future defence industry workforce.
Chosen from almost 100 applicants, the University of Portsmouth will help build connections between academia and the defence sector, creating a pipeline of skilled people into some of the most exciting career pathways from cyber security, robotics, AI, aerospace engineering, and advanced manufacturing.
It forms part of the Government's £182 million defence skills package, strengthening the UK's talent pipeline, supporting economic growth, and ensuring every region benefits from the MOD's historic £298 billion defence investment over the next four years.
We have a long history of working with organisations across the defence and national security sectors, and we welcome the opportunity to strengthen those partnerships through research, innovation and skills development.
Professor Graham Galbraith, University of Portsmouth Vice Chancellor
Being embedded within one of the UK's strongest defence ecosystems, means the University has delivered defence-focused education and professional development for more than 4,400 MOD-related learners since 2015, working with organisations including the Royal Navy, Defence Medical Service and MOD establishments. It also provides specialist military education for the RAF through contracts at RAF Cranwell and RAF Halton, supporting officer, non-commissioned officer and technical career pathways.
Located at the heart of the Portsmouth defence cluster, with close links to HMNB Portsmouth, MOD organisations, defence primes, and regional defence networks, the University is uniquely positioned to connect research, skills development, and industry collaboration.
University of Portsmouth Vice Chancellor, Professor Graham Galbraith, said: "The University of Portsmouth is proud to become a founding member of the Defence Universities Alliance. We have a long history of working with organisations across the defence and national security sectors, and we welcome the opportunity to strengthen those partnerships through research, innovation and skills development.
"As the university serving Portsmouth, home to His Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth and one of the UK's most important defence industry hubs, we are proud of our expertise across defence and security. We already deliver world-leading research and development for the Ministry of Defence and the wider defence sector, while helping to equip the region's workforce with the skills and knowledge needed to support economic growth and our national security objectives. Joining the Alliance will enable us to build on that work through even closer collaboration with government, industry and academic partners."
The DUA will fundamentally change the way Defence, universities and industry work together - strengthening our national security, creating strategic advantage and supporting growth to deliver better outcomes for the UK."
Professor Tim Dafforn, Chief Scientific Advisor at the Ministry of Defence
Professor Tim Dafforn, Chief Scientific Advisor at the Ministry of Defence, said: "The Defence Universities Alliance represents a genuinely transformative step forward in how Defence partners with the UK's world-leading academic sector. By bringing together our shared expertise, ambition and innovation, the Alliance will help us tackle some of the most complex challenges facing Defence at a strategic level. I am incredibly excited about the opportunities this creates. The DUA will fundamentally change the way Defence, universities and industry work together - strengthening our national security, creating strategic advantage and supporting growth to deliver better outcomes for the UK."
Amanda Martin MP for Portsmouth North, said: "Minister Pollard knows I never miss an opportunity to grab him and lobby for more investment in Portsmouth's defence sector, so I'm absolutely delighted to see the University of Portsmouth recognised as a founding member of the new Defence Universities Alliance.
"This is fantastic news for our city. Portsmouth has a proud defence heritage, world-class expertise and a university that is already leading the way in research, innovation and skills. This alliance will help even more local people access exciting careers in areas like cyber security, AI, advanced engineering and defence technology, while strengthening our national security."
This is fantastic news for our city. Portsmouth has a proud defence heritage, world-class expertise and a university that is already leading the way in research, innovation and skills.
Amanda Martin , MP for Portsmouth North
By signing the Defence Universities Alliance Charter, founding members have committed to supporting defence and national security research, promoting careers across the defence sector and strengthening collaboration between academia, government and industry. The Alliance will also provide universities with opportunities to engage more closely with the MOD, policymakers and defence partners to help shape future research, skills development and innovation.
