Anticipation is building for DPRTE 2019 ahead of the UK’s premier defence procurement event of the year, taking place at Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre on 28 March.
Defence Procurement, Research, Technology & Exportability (DPRTE) 2019 will bring together buyers, suppliers and defence thought leaders in an engaging environment where they can network and discuss the latest market developments and opportunities.
The Ministry of Defence, DE&S, Dstl, DASA and ISS are just some of the defence organisations that will be sharing their business opportunities and insights.
Attendees will have access to the DPRTE Product Showcase Exhibition (featuring over 100 suppliers), Live Keynote Arena, five Knowledge Transfer Zones and seven Networking and Collaboration Zones.
Live Keynote Arena
The DPRTE 2019 Live Keynote Arena will host a range of the leading and most influential speakers from across the defence procurement and supply chain marketplace.
Attendees will have an invaluable opportunity to hear directly from those personnel who are actively engaged in both setting and delivering the direction of the UK’s defence procurement and supply chain strategy.
Chairing the Live Keynote Arena again this year will be Commercial Strategies Ltd CEO and former Ministry of Defence Commercial Director Les Mosco.
Stuart Andrew MP, Minister for Defence Procurement; Jim Carter, Commercial Director, Supply Chain at the MOD; and Lucy Mason, Head of the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), will deliver keynote addresses alongside Professor Trevor Taylor, Professorial Research Fellow in Defence Management at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and Tracy Buckingham, Head of Operations and Security Exports at the Department for International Trade’s Defence & Security Organisation (DIT DSO).
Ant Middleton, best known for his role as Chief Instructor on hit TV show ‘SAS: Who Dares Wins’, will bring proceedings to a close with a session on leadership and teambuilding.
Technology & Innovation Knowledge Transfer Zone
The Technology & Innovation Knowledge Transfer Zone will host a series of training sessions aimed at providing participants with an insight into the latest developments and opportunities within this area. These sessions will encourage a greater level of collaboration with industry, academia and allies, in order to target new providers to boost the competitive advantage of UK defence and find answers to the most pressing national security questions from across sectors.
Sessions will include Andrew Cunningham, Executive Director – Innovation at the UK Defence Solutions Centre (UKDSC), take on ‘Cross Sector Innovation From a Defence Perspective’.
Peter Marshall, Professional Services Director at Commerce Decisions, will give a session titled ‘There’s a Lot More to Evaluation Than Meets the Eye’. This will be followed by Phil Blunden, Communications Manager at the Defence Cyber Protection Partnership (DCPP), with ‘Defence Contracting – How Suppliers Are Required to Protect MOD Electronic Data’.
The zone will also host a session from Cyber Essentials Marketing Executive Megan McGinty on gaining a competitive advantage through Cyber Essentials.
Supply Chain & Partnering Knowledge Transfer Zone
The Supply Chain & Partnering Knowledge Transfer Zone will provide attendees with the chance to hear directly from prime contracting and supporting organisations such as Airbus, Boeing and DxC Technology as to how they can engage and actively pursue new business development opportunities across the wider supply chain.
In the MOD report ‘Industry for Defence and a Prosperous Britain: Refreshing Defence Industrial Policy’, current Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson confirmed that the MOD would continue to spend with SMEs. The report states that the goal is to place 25% of direct and indirect defence procurement spend with SMEs by 2020, compared with the 18.1% total in 2015/16.
Also appearing within the Supply Chain & Partnering zone at DPRTE 2019 will be Defence Contracts International (DCI) Marketing Manager David Young, who will talk about ‘Accessing International Opportunities’; the Crown Commercial Service and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) will also collaborate to deliver a session while Jon White, Sales Director Europe at GE Aviation, will discuss ‘Supply Chain Opportunities With GE Aviation’.
Export & Business Growth Knowledge Transfer Zone
Supported by the Department for International Trade, the Export & Business Growth Knowledge Transfer Zone will provide exhibitors and visitors with specialist export advice and practical assistance, enabled through DIT’s Defence & Security Organisation and its close working relationship with the MOD and the Export Control Organisation (ECO).
Delegates have the opportunity to visit the DIT DSO stand to meet civilian and military advisers and to attend a number of seminar sessions aimed at the UK SME defence and security community.
The zone launches with Team Leader Small Business Unit at DIT DSO, Tim Clewes, presenting on ‘DIT DSO Support for SMEs’.
Training continues with sessions from other DIT DSO experts on areas such as ‘Military Support for Defence and Security Exports’, ‘DIT DSO Media Support and Opportunities’ and ‘Security Exports’.
Andrew Cunningham, Executive Director – Innovation at UKDSC, will round things off with a discussion on support for UK SMEs.
Buyer Excellence in Procurement Knowledge Transfer Zone
In addition to accessing a wealth of industry expertise, DPRTE attendees can also visit the Buyer Excellence in Procurement Knowledge Transfer Zone, where Principal PASS Consultant Eddie Regan will be leading on procurement best practice and advice, which defence buyers can utilise to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their procurement exercises.
These sessions will cover topics such as ‘Developing Your Business Case’, ‘Planning Your Exit Strategy’, ‘Effective Evaluation’, ‘Managing Change in Your Contract’, ‘Market Engagement Benefits’, ‘Developing a Risk Strategy’ and ‘Commercial Awareness’.
Doing Business with the US DoD Zone
The US defence market is the largest in the world, with a proposed defence procurement budget of over $686 billion for the forthcoming financial year.
The United States Department of Defense’s (DoD) enduring mission is to provide combat-credible military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of the nation. Its National Defense Strategy acknowledges an increasingly complex global security environment, characterised by overt challenges to the free and open international order.
Representatives from the US DoD will be on hand to provide advice and guidance on how to access the wealth of opportunities available within the world’s largest defence procurement marketplace, through a range of training sessions and one-to-one meetings.
Defence Procurement Pavilion
The Defence Procurement Pavilion, one of DPRTE’s Networking and Collaboration Zones, will provide visitors with an unrivalled opportunity to engage directly with key defence procurement organisations such as DE&S, DIO, FLC Army/Air/Navy, the Submarine Delivery Agency, ISS and Doing Business with Defence.
For MOD and wider public sector personnel engaged within procurement, the Pavilion will bring together these key organisations, offering a unique networking opportunity.
In addition, the Pavilion offers the chance to share and explore the ideas and best practices that are actively supporting and developing current objectives and initiatives.
To be at the forefront of the discussions by attending, sponsoring or exhibiting at DPRTE 2019, book now at www.dprte.co.uk/book-now
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