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Author Archives: HM Government

News story: Accelerator webinar: revolutionise the human information relationship for Defence

The webinar provided information about the £6 million Innovation Fund competition, for those who couldn’t make it to the main networking event on 23 February 2017.

The competition is seeking new technologies, processes and ways of working to improve the way we analyse and exploit data. With the relationship between human and information at the centre of war-fighting we need Defence leaders to have access to the right information on critical issues to enable decision making that outpaces our adversaries.

Phase 1 proposals are now invited and must be received by no later than 12 noon on 21 March 2017.

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News story: First Innovation Fund challenge event – presentation slides

At the event in London, a series of presentations provided details of three challenges that make up the Defence and Security Accelerator competition ‘Revolutionise the human information relationship for Defence’.

To set the scene, Accelerator Acting Head Rob Solly and Innovation Partner Jim Pennycook opened the event, giving an overview of proof-of-concept research funding opportunities for innovative science and technology providers.

Rear Admiral Tim Fraser and military staff from Joint Force Command outlined the importance of this competition for defence.

Challenge 1

Challenge 1: allowing rapid and automated integration of new sensors was introduced, with details provided from a military and technical perspective.

Challenge 2

Challenge 2: free up personnel by the innovative use of machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) for military advantage was explained from a military and technical challenge perspective.

Challenge 3

Challenge 3: make effective use of operator cognitive capacity, particularly by human-machine teaming was outlined, again with details from a technical and military view.

The competition was then summed up by Joint Force Command and the competition process was explained.

Other opportunities

UK Defence Solutions Centre then talked about export opportunities and Dual Use Technology Exploitation gave an overview of opportunities through non-defence markets.

How to work with the Accelerator

The Accelerator team then outlined how organisations can access the Accelerator and gave advice on how to submit good proposals for funding.

Unmanned Warrior

A briefing on the Unmanned Warrior was then given.

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News story: Invitation to tender for research from the Low Pay Commission 2017

The Low Pay Commission is commissioning new research to understand the effects of the NLW. The closing date is 13 March 2017.

The introduction of the National Living Wage is a major change for the labour market – likely to represent a sharp increase in the nominal, real and relative value of the UK’s pay floor. Coverage is set to triple by 2020.

In some sectors more than half of workers could be paid at the minimum – all at a time of major change in the economy, and the welfare system. It is, in effect, a natural experiment.

Such a significant change in the minimum wage is likely to have a wide set of effects and there are many approaches that could be used to analyse such effects.

The Low Pay Commission has launched its latest invitation to tender for research. Please see the links below to the projects on the central procurement provider, UKSBS Contracts Finder. The deadline is 13 March 2017. These are open tender calls for research and cover 3 areas.

We are commissioning research:

  • on the impact of the National Minimum Wage and the new National Living Wage on employment and hours (UK SBS BLOJEU-CR17029LPC).

    One project will be commissioned with a total budget up to £60,000. Link to Contracts Finder.

  • into the impact of the minimum wage regime on the labour market outcomes of young workers (UK SBS BLOJEU-CR17030LPC).

    One project will be commissioned with a total budget up to £60,000. Link to Contracts Finder.

  • open call for Other Research on the Impact of the National Living Wage (UK SBS BLOJEU-CR17028LPC).

    Up to four projects will be commissioned, with a total budget of £100,000. Link to Contracts Finder.

Please circulate to colleagues who may be interested.

Please also note that the LPC will be holding a research workshop on the afternoon of Thursday 6 April. Details will follow shortly.

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