The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is an Executive Agency of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). It operates as a Trading Fund, owned by the Secretary of State for Defence, Des Browne. is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces. ... The Secretary of State for Defence is the senior United Kingdom government minister in charge of the Ministry of Defence. ...

The stated purpose of Dstl is to deliver value to the UK taxpayer by providing outputs of research, timely advice and solutions to customer's defence and security-related problems. Its stated mission is "to create the winning edge for UK Forces and Government through the best use of Science and Technology". Its stated vision is "to be the indispensable source of Science and Technology at the heart of defence".

Dstl carries out a broad range of work from high-level analysis to support Ministry of Defence policy and procurement decisions, to technical research in defence areas such as biomedical science and electronics, alongside operational work such as forensic analysis of explosives. Health science is the discipline of applied science which deals with human and animal health. ... This article is about the engineering discipline. ... The word forensic (from Latin: forensis - forum) refers to something of, pertaining to, or used in a court of law. ... This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ...

The reason Dstl survives as a sustainable business is in part because it's scientific and engineering expertise is trusted by its MOD customers - because Dstl has no commercial interests or aspirations. Since its formation Dstl has reduced it's profit margins year-on-year, increasing the value of its services to its customers.

History

In July 2001, the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) was split into two parts. Dstl was established to carry out science and technology work that is best done within government, while the majority was transferred to the (then) part-privatised QinetiQ. Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (normally known as DERA), was a part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) until July 2, 2001. ... QinetiQ (LSE: QQ.) (pronounced kÄ­-nÄ•tÄ­k, as in kinetic energy) is a British defence technology company, formed from the greater part of the former government agency DERA when it was split up in June 2001 (with the smaller part becoming Dstl). ...

Organisation

Dstl is a Trading Fund owned by the Ministry of Defence —it is responsible for managing its own budget, funded by contracts for specific work. Most funding comes from the Ministry of Defence, although a small portion comes from other government departments and commercial sources. According to 2004/5 figures, around 88% of Dstl's income comes from MOD. The remaining 12% of income comes from other government departments (45%) and non-exchequer sources, including QinetiQ and foreign governments (55%). Typcial examples of these contracts are three year research programmes and 6 month urgent operational requirements. QinetiQ (LSE: QQ.) (pronounced kÄ­-nÄ•tÄ­k, as in kinetic energy) is a British defence technology company, formed from the greater part of the former government agency DERA when it was split up in June 2001 (with the smaller part becoming Dstl). ...

The Chief Executive from 2001 to 2006 was Martin J Earwicker. The position was vacant until August 2007, during which time Frances Saunders was acting as Chief Executive. In August 2007 Frances Saunders became the chief executive. Professor Martin John Earwicker FREng CCMI is the director of the National Museum of Science and Industry group of British museums (including the Science Museum, National Railway Museum and National Media Museum from 2006. ...

Dstl consists of the following departments:

• Environmental Sciences
• Detection
• Physical Sciences
• Biomedical Sciences
• Sensors and countermeasures
• Energetics
• Electronics
• Policy and Capability Studies
• Naval Systems
• Land Battlespace Systems
• Air and Weapons Systems
• Joint Systems
• Information Management
• Knowledge Services

Locations

Dstl is currently consolidating to three core sites: Fort Halstead, Porton Down, and Portsdown West, under a project known as "INSPIRE", due to complete in 2009. This project is part of a wider organisational change programme known as i lab, which is intended to increase efficiency through more unity across the organisation. This involves using common working practises and having all parts of Dstl managed using the same processes and procedures. Deliveries to date include new career progression tools and acconting systems.

Dstl's current sites include:

• Alverstoke, Hampshire
• Bedford, Bedfordshire
• Farnborough, Hampshire
• Fort Halstead, Kent
• Malvern, Worcestershire
• Pershore, Worcestershire
• Porton Down, Wiltshire
• Portsdown West, Hampshire
• Winfrith, Dorset

Alverstoke is a village, now within the boundaries of Gosport, Hampshire, England, that encompasses land stretching from Haslar to Stokes Bay. ... For other uses, see Hampshire (disambiguation). ... Bedford is the county town of the English county of Bedfordshire. ... Farnborough is a town in the Hampshire borough of Rushmoor in South East England. ... Sevenoaks is a town in the Sevenoaks district of Kent in South East England and forms part of the London commuter belt. ... For other uses, see Kent (disambiguation). ... Malvern is a town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England . ... Pershore is a small market town in Worcestershire, England on the banks of the River Avon. ... Worcestershire (pronounced ; abbreviated Worcs) is a county located in the West Midlands region of central England. ... Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, or often known more simply as Porton Down, is a United Kingdom government facility for military research, including CBRN defence. ... Wiltshire (abbreviated Wilts) is a large southern English county. ... Portsdown Hill is a long chalk hill overlooking Portsmouth, in Hampshire, England, offering good views over Portsmouth, The Solent, Hayling Island and Gosport, with the Isle of Wight beyond. ... For other uses, see Hampshire (disambiguation). ... The Winfrith Atomic Energy Authority site existed from the 1960s until its shutdown in 1990, although decommissioning of the site will be ongoing for some time. ... Dorset (pronounced DOR-sit or [dɔ.sət], and sometimes in the past called Dorsetshire) is a county in the south-west of England, on the English Channel coast. ...

Spin-offs

Ploughshare Innovations

In April 2005 the technology transfer company Ploughshare Innovations Ltd was formed. This company has the mission statement "To actively pursue the commercial exploitation of publicly funded research for the benefit of all". The purpose of Ploughshare Innovations Ltd is to commercialise on the intellectual property developed within Dstl (predominantly from MOD funded defence science research). Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Ploughshare Innovations has successfully spun-out several new companies since its inception including Acolyte Biomedica Ltd, Alaska Food Diagnostics Ltd, Enigma Diagnostics Ltd, Lucigen Ltd and Porton Plasma Innovations Ltd.

Sources

This article uses Dstl Annual Report 04/05, Dstl Annual Report 05/06, Dstl Annual Report 06/07.

External links

• Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
• Ministry Of Defence
• Ploughshare Innovations