CDE invites ideas for using synthetic biology to create lighter and more protective military armour (22 November 2016)

The Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE) has announced that it will spend up to £750,000 researching into new ways of using synthetic biology to create transparent materials that are thinner and lighter than used for existing armour, which could offer military personnel better protection.

CDE is seeking ideas in two areas – novel transparent materials and adhesives and interlayer materials to use with transparent materials – in a competition for funding under the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI).

The best ideas could share up to £1 million to develop them further in a second phase of the competition.

The CDE says there is a need in the military for transparent armour that is highly robust, maintains its optical properties despite impact – and is compatible with night vision.

Synthetic biology applies engineering principles to biology to develop new biological devices and new materials.

The deadline for applications is at 5pm on 2 February 2017 and the competition is open to any organisation and is for fully funded development contracts.

Contracts in the first phase are expected to be worth between £40,000 and £80,000 and to last up to nine months – and competition briefing events take place on 1 December and 5 December 2016.

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