Chief scientists back idea of speculative research at MoD

A recommendation that the Ministry of Defence should boost its funding for opportunity-led research has received support from the ministry’s chief scientists.

The MoD said its chief scientific adviser Vernon Gibson welcomed the Defence Scientific Advisory Council’s report calling for the department to commit £150 million a year to forward-looking research. The funding could be managed and distributed by a “defence research council”, the report said.

Mark Welland, a former chief scientist for the MoD, also supports the conclusions. “If the R&D budget can be increased so that more speculative research on future military challenges can be realised, then I think that would be well worth doing.”