Ploughshare’s TAG Alliance grows to 19 members as defence spin-outs accelerate

Ploughshare’s Technology and Growth (TAG) Alliance is gaining momentum less than a year after being announced, with at least three new defence technology spin-outs expected by the end of the year and three major organisations joining its growing membership. 

Ploughshare was established in 2005 as the Ministry of Defence (MoD)’s trusted commercialisation partner. It has brought over 140 technologies to market and created 16 spin-out companies. 

Check out our earlier interview with Ploughshare CEO Hetti Barkworth-Nanton.

Ploughshare has exclusive access to the UK government’s defence intellectual property (IP), and works with a wide range of partners across academia, industry, and the public sector to help unlock new and innovative ideas to benefit national security, cyber security, people’s lives, and the planet.

The TAG Alliance Membership welcomes Babcock, Frazer-Nash Consultancy and UKRI to the Alliance, bringing together 19 organisations working to take UK defence innovation into wider markets:

• ADS Babcock
• BAE Systems
• CBI
• Cranfield University
• UK DIN
• The D Group 
• Dstl Frazer-Nash Consultancy
• Future Planet Capital
• GALLOS
• Helsing 
• IOT Tribe 
• Leonardo
• NPL
• Ploughshare 
• QinetiQ 
• Thales
• UKRI
  
  

The TAG Alliance exists to maximise the impact from the billions of pounds that have been, and continue to be, invested in defence science and technology.

Several new spin-out companies have been formed by members of the Alliance already, including Rho-C by BAE Systems, which takes breakthrough ultrasound technology into demanding industrial environments and StirlingX by GALLOS, who have developed a sovereign intelligence platform that turns multi-sensor data into critical insight for infrastructure. 

According to the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard:

“With nineteen partners now on board and new spin-outs already emerging, this is exactly the kind of collaboration between government, industry and academia that will drive our reindustrialisation forward."

Hetti Barkworth-Nanton CBE, Chair of The TAG Alliance and CEO of Ploughshare said:

“By bringing together industry, government, academia and accelerating capabilities including investors, The TAG Alliance will help proven technologies reach new markets, attract investment, and create skilled jobs, delivering lasting economic and societal benefit, particularly across our regions where we see huge potential.”

Ben White, Director Industrial Strategy, Ministry of Defence, shared:

"Defence operates in some of the most challenging environments imaginable. These conditions are breeding grounds for innovation. However, innovation only creates value when it moves from an idea into practical reality.

The UK has incredible talent and capability, but the challenge is unlocking it and connecting it to the right platforms and communities, and that is exactly the opportunity TAG Alliance represents.”