Project Status - Completed
- Start Date: July 2020
- End Date: March 2021
- Local Growth Fund allocation: £1,680,000
- Awarded to: Dorset Council
Project Summary:
Dorset LEP invested £1.68 million towards the construction of a new Defence BattleLab, at Dorset Innovation Park Enterprise Zone in Wool. The investment has been matched by £3.1 million from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and £1.1 million from Dorset Council.
The new Defence BattleLab has provided 2,108m2 new office space and 450m2 new workshop space for MOD innovation, collaboration and conferences. It aims to create 111 new jobs and achieve a direct GVA of £4.8 million by 2025.
The centre will incorporate an Army BattleLab and will enable the MOD to work in collaboration with academic institutions, corporates and SMEs to develop new products and technologies with the potential to be commercialised.
Dorset boasts of a particularly strong defence sector and is home to many MOD establishments, such as the Army’s Armoured Trial and Development Unit in Bovington, the Royal Corps of Signals training centre in Blandford, and the training area at Lulworth Cove which is used by all elements of the UK’s Armed Forces.
Dorset Innovation Park, Dorset's only economic development site with Enterprise Zone status, is developing to be an advanced engineering cluster of excellence for the South West, building on its strengths in marine, defence, energy and cyber-security.
Find out more about the Defence BattleLab.
