The University of Bath has been confirmed as a founder member of the Defence Universities Alliance (DUA), a new organisation announced today by the UK Government.
Launched by Luke Pollard MP, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, the DUA will create a network of defence research expertise and drive a highly skilled workforce across the UK.
The Alliance is a collaborative, strategic network of UK universities committed to partnering with the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the UK Armed Forces, the Office of the Chief Scientific Advisor for National Security, and the wider defence sector.
A part of the Government’s latest defence skills package, it will help defence and academia work together to strengthen the UK’s talent pipeline in career pathways including cyber security, robotics, AI, aerospace engineering and advanced manufacturing.
It will also see Universities provide ideas, expertise and talent to tackle complex research and development challenges, working to translate research into defence capability and innovation.
Professor Phil Taylor, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bath, said:
Our mission to nurture talent, drive innovation and cultivate knowledge that benefits society aligns with the strategic aims of the Defence Universities Alliance.
Alongside research and innovation that contributes to safety, security and resilience, the University of Bath's education portfolio supports the development of skills and career pathways that strengthen the UK’s defence workforce.
Through engagement with employers, collaborative research programmes and innovation initiatives, there are pathways for graduates and researchers to pursue careers in defence and defence-related industries.
Bath has leading research capabilities in defence-related areas aligned to national priorities identified in the Strategic Defence Review 2025, including military health and human performance, aerospace engineering and manufacturing, and visual computing and simulation.
Today's launch follows the recent news that the University of Bath will receive £2.8 million from the MOD and Office for Students (OfS) to support computer science courses aligned to defence-related skills.
In joining the Alliance, Bath has signed the Defence Universities Alliance Charter, committing to help grow defence research, promote careers in defence, and foster collaboration and partnerships between academia, defence, and the national security community.
Professor Tim Dafforn, Chief Scientific Advisor, Ministry of Defence, said:
The Defence Universities Alliance represents a genuinely transformative step forward in how Defence partners with the UK’s world-leading academic sector. By bringing together our shared expertise, ambition and innovation, the Alliance will help us tackle some of the most complex challenges facing Defence at a strategic level.
I am incredibly excited about the opportunities this creates. The DUA will fundamentally change the way Defence, universities and industry work together - strengthening our national security, creating strategic advantage and supporting growth to deliver better outcomes for the UK.