Online briefing on 15 October brings together techUK and Defence Contracts International, and serves as an official warm-up to the National Defence Summit in Manchester.
DPRTE and Defence Contracts International (DCI) will host an online webinar on 15 October 2026 examining how dual-use technologies are opening a new route for SMEs into the UK defence supply chain.
Dual-use technologies are innovations developed for civilian markets that also have defence applications. With the Ministry of Defence continuing to prioritise innovation and broaden its supplier base, understanding how to position that capability is becoming essential for technology-led suppliers, particularly those that do not see themselves as defence companies.
Jeremy Wimble, Senior Programme Manager – Defence at techUK, will set out what dual-use means in a defence procurement context, where opportunities are emerging for SMEs and innovators, and how techUK supports non-traditional suppliers in navigating procurement routes. He will also address the common barriers to entry, from the gap between commercial technology cycles and defence timelines to security and accreditation requirements, and how they can realistically be overcome.
The webinar is one of the official warm-up sessions to the DPRTE UK National Defence Procurement & Supply Chain Summit 2026, taking place in Manchester on 22 October. The Summit will bring together government buyers, primes, tier-one and tier-two suppliers, SMEs and regional clusters, with DCI as Market Intelligence Partner. Attendees will leave the webinar with practical guidance on positioning dual-use capability and a preview of the themes to be taken further in person.
