Defence is one of the world’s most demanding innovation environments, developing technologies under extreme constraints of weight, energy, reliability and cost, with proven capabilities in energy resilience, advanced materials, autonomous systems, supply-chain security and operational efficiency.

At the same time, defence and adjacent industries increasingly compete for the same constrained energy, materials and infrastructure. The SMI is working to build cross-industry coalitions, identify investable pilot opportunities and mobilise coordinated procurement and investment signals that strengthen resilience, security of supply and operational performance across defence and strategically important industries.