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about the UK defence and security market opportunity
Invest in Lincolnshire's defence and security Sector: Key Benefits and Opportunities
Lincolnshire presents a unique location opportunity for defence and security companies investing in the UK. With a large military presence, the UK’s ISTAR hub, a cluster of high-tech businesses supporting RAF operations, and providers of leading-edge digital and information technology R&D, Lincolnshire enables direct access to the UK’s expanding and transforming defence market.
The Lincolnshire Defence & Security Investment Opportunity
For investing defence and security businesses, Lincolnshire offers:
UK ISTAR Hub
Home to the “hub of UK ISTAR and the main operating base for airborne intelligence aircraft and systems.” (RAF)
Military Presence
Including the RAF’s Air and Space Warfare Centre (ASWC) and Air Battlespace Training Centre, and the MOD’s Joint Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities Group (JCG).
Industry Cluster
Including defence and security technology companies supporting RAF ISTAR, and advanced digital, engineering and energy technology businesses.
Research & Technology
UK-leading digital and IT R&D, in key areas including sensors, AI, big data analytics, robotics and automation, and VAR (virtual and augmented reality).
Specialist Workforce
A technically skilled workforce, including a substantial ex-military population, and skills providers focused on the needs of defence and security businesses.
Sites & Properties
A range of accommodation solutions for expanding defence and security sector businesses of all sizes and profiles.
Sustainability Solutions
At the heart of the UK’s transition to Net Zero energy and industry - ideally positioned to facilitate ambitious business decarbonisation strategies.
Market Access
Business locations close to key military bases, with fast, multimodal access to UK and international markets.
Dedicated Support
Dedicated support for investing businesses
The UK Defence and Security Market Opportunity
From a Lincolnshire base, investing businesses can leverage the opportunities presented by a rapidly transforming and growing defence and security sector - through direct access to leading-edge digital technologies, ground-breaking decarbonisation solutions, and secure environments for defence innovation, testing and production.
- Digitalisation is enabling better information and revolutionising performance – both in the military operating environment and throughout the industry value chain.
- ISTAR is digitalising rapidly, creating growing demand for fast, networked communications; big data analytics; AI; and optimised human-machine interaction.
- Industry 4.0 technologies are transforming the development, procurement, manufacture and distribution of defence products - for businesses and governments.
- The UK’s Net Zero commitments mean that the military and businesses need low carbon energy sources and new, sustainable products, processes, and supply chains.
- The UK Government has committed to investing £85 billion in defence equipment and support by 2025, and specified that key defence industry capabilities must be UK-based.
Transformation
ISTARRapid Digitisation
UK Investment
£85billionby 2025
UK Target
Net ZeroEmissionsBy 2050
Building the UK’s ISTAR Centre of Excellence
Focused on ISTAR technologies applicable across all defence domains including space, the Greater Lincolnshire Regional Defence and Security Cluster (GLRDSC) is enabling access to defence users, insights into their challenges, and opportunities for collaborative innovation.
- The GLRDSC is a Lincolnshire defence sector partnership of industry, academia and the military.
- Building on, and co-located with, RAF and supporting business ISTAR capabilities, combined with University of Lincoln expertise in digital and information technologies.
- Developing technologies to improve decision support, interoperability, and overall information advantage, with a focus on information itself as a lever of military success.
- Emphasising analytics technologies, encompassing the management, storage, manipulation, fusion, wrangling, analysis and visualisation of data for decision support.
- Incorporating secure communication technologies and the synthetics and simulation capabilities needed to support complex information and intelligence systems.
- Highlighting business and supply chain digitalisation and Industry 4.0 / 5.0 technologies.
Lincolnshire’s Military Presence
Lincolnshire’s RAF bases are closely aligned with the area’s defence and security industry concentrations, creating high-value opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
- Lincolnshire’s RAF bases are located within around 30 minutes’ drive time from Lincoln - home to the University of Lincoln and Lincoln Science and Innovation Park (LSIP)
- The bases potentially offer secure locations with permissive airspace for advanced technology development, testing, and evaluation.
- RAF bases include RAF Waddington - the UK’s ISTAR hub and home to the Air & Space Warfare Centre (ASWC) & Air Battlespace Training Centre - and RAF Digby - home to HQ Joint Cyber & Electromagnetic Activities Group (JCG).
Lincolnshire’s Defence & Security Industry Cluster
For defence and security businesses investing in Lincolnshire, the area’s established industry cluster ensures advanced technological expertise, a skilled workforce, and the potential for value-adding innovation and supply chain partnerships.
- Lincolnshire’s defence and security industry cluster incorporates both global defence businesses and highly specialised technology providers.
- Capabilities include multi-domain ISTAR, defence communications, mission support, data analytics, AI, cyber-security, unmanned aerial systems, virtual and augmented reality (VAR), and training, simulation and emulation services.
- Lincolnshire’s wider digital and advanced manufacturing business base offers expertise in technology areas including AI, robotics, power generation and sustainable transport.
- Businesses serving sectors including agri-tech and logistics offer advanced expertise transferable to the defence and security sector, notably in the area of digitalisation.
Defence & Security Research, Technologies and Innovation
Through the Regional Defence and Security Cluster, businesses investing in Lincolnshire can access leading-edge digital and information technologies, collaborate with academic and supply chain partners, and share best practice to gain a technological edge.
- Combining advanced digital and engineering knowledge, the University of Lincoln is a leading UK hub for research and technologies of relevance to the defence sector, including digitalisation, automation, Industry 4.0, and the transition to Industry 5.0.
- The university’s dedicated research centres apply technologies including AI, machine learning, big data analytics, and intelligent robotics to key industry challenges including advanced product development and improving productivity.
- Industry 5.0 research, focused on human-machine interaction and collaboration, is of particular relevance to ISTAR and the need for effective decision support.
- Research into sustainable energy and power systems aligns with the defence industry’s drive for low carbon energy and propulsion technologies.
A Technically Skilled Defence & Security Sector Workforce
Lincolnshire offers a technically skilled workforce aligned with the needs of expanding defence and security businesses - enabling faster recruitment and project delivery, and ongoing productivity.
- Lincolnshire provides access to a large manufacturing workforce, with a significantly higher percentage of workers in the sector than the Great Britain average.
- Lincolnshire’s technically skilled workforce reflects the regional presence of leading advanced manufacturing companies applying industrial digitalisation technologies.
- Lincolnshire benefits from high workforce concentration in electronics and engineering classifications of direct relevance to the defence and security sector.
- Lincolnshire’s technology-focused further and higher education institutions deliver the digital and engineering skills required by defence and security businesses.
- Lincolnshire’s large ex-military population provides a further source of workers with specific, relevant expertise.
Sites and Properties for Defence & Security Research and Business Growth
The defence and security industry is projected to grow at sites across Lincolnshire, enabling university R&D collaborations, secure product testing and evaluation, and full-scale commercial business operations.
- Lincoln Science & Innovation Park (LSIP) is developing as the defence and security cluster’s innovation hub. The Park offers business accommodation, R&D facilities, and shared hub services, and provides businesses with direct access to University of Lincoln expertise and collaborative environments.
- Lincolnshire offers a range of suitable sites for expanding defence and security businesses of all sizes and profiles. Secure military bases and facilities offer the potential for technology and product testing and evaluation with military partners.
- Sites are available with benefits potentially including proximity to RAF bases (including RAF Waddington); Freeport incentives; and access to sustainable industrial power.
Decarbonisation & Sustainability Solutions for Defence & Security Businesses
Lincolnshire is at the forefront of the UK’s Green Industrial Revolution, creating potential opportunities for defence and security businesses to access low carbon energy sources and implement ambitious decarbonisation strategies.
- Lincolnshire is at the heart of renewable and low carbon energy generation in the UK, encompassing offshore renewables, biofuels and cutting edge anaerobic digestion.
- Opportunities exist for energy-intensive organisations, including defence manufacturers and military facilities, to access reliable, cost-effective, low carbon power.
- Lincolnshire’s Humber Energy Estuary is home to world-leading industrial decarbonisation projects. Major investments in infrastructure and technologies including Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) will enable low carbon energy generation.
Fast UK & Global Market Access for Defence & Security Businesses
Lincolnshire provides defence and security sector businesses with fast, multimodal access to UK and international markets.
- Lincolnshire’s central Great Britain location (north-south) enables fast access by road to the UK’s major defence and advanced manufacturing centres and markets.
- The ports of Immingham and Grimsby are among the UK’s largest by tonnage, offering diverse cargo handling capabilities and global seafreight connectivity.
- Airports accessible within 2 hours include East Midlands (the UK’s no.2 air cargo hub), Birmingham and Leeds-Bradford. Within Lincolnshire, Humberside Airport’s Amsterdam Schiphol hub-feeder service enables access to hundreds of global destinations.
- Lincolnshire’s major ports are freight-rail connected. For business travellers, London is accessible by rail from Lincoln in less than 2 hours.
Support for Your Defence and Security Sector Business Investment
Working together, Invest Lincolnshire and our partner organisations, including local authorities, education providers and businesses, provide dedicated support to ensure a ‘soft landing’ for companies locating and investing in Lincolnshire.
Home to Leading Defence and Security Businesses
Businesses established in Lincolnshire’s Defence and Security sector include
Get the Data on Lincolnshire as a defence and security Business Location
Lincolnshire’s defence and security sector Business Location Guide provides essential information and data for companies researching and evaluation Lincolnshire as a potential investment location, including:
