How the MoD crowdsources critical solutions for national security.

Need

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) faces unique innovation challenges:

Overcoming historical barriers to innovation within a rigid hierarchy.
Meeting sustainability goals, including net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Addressing critical operational challenges, such as communication and surveillance during disaster relief efforts.
Tapping into diverse expertise beyond traditional defence sector boundaries.

Solution

To resolve such complex challenges the MoD works with Wazoku and other external partners. Wazoku is a unique platform designed to identify and develop inspired ideas buried deep within large organisations…

Case Study One: Sustainable jet engines

The UK government is committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The MoD is no exception.

The Defence Ideas Programme – using Wazoku’s innovation platform – was tasked to find a sustainable synthetic aviation fuel for military jets. Buried in a Bristol research laboratory, they discovered the findings of a dormant synthetic aviation fuel project. Reports of secret experiments by the Swedish air force also proved crucial. These revealed that sustained flights at Mach 1.6 using synthetic fuel were possible.

In March 2023, defence chiefs officially recognized the use of synthetic fuel for military aircraft. This decision opens doors for much wider applications within the MoD – potentially powering planes, ships, and land vehicles far beyond defence.

Case Study Two: Emergency Communications

Following a devastating earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia, two British warships are despatched to help coordinate relief efforts. But the MoD and Wazoku needed to resolve two urgent issues: .

(a) How to obtain observational imagery when surveillance satellites are misaligned

(b) How to communicate with first responders when all comms infrastructures have been degraded or destroyed.

These challenges were resolved by drawing on Wazoku’s 700,000 diverse solution experts across the world. They have been hugely instrumental in delivering resilient, adaptable technologies for disaster response scenarios.

Both approaches involve:

Controlled, secure conditions for idea submission and assessment.
Engagement with experts across various sectors, geographies and disciplines.
Rigorous evaluation criteria to ensure practical, cost-effective solutions.

Value

The MoD’s innovative approach has delivered significant benefits:

Sustainability breakthrough with potentially global impact.
Enhanced disaster response capabilities in the most devastated environments.
Access to 700,000 innovation experts to capture global insights and creativity.
Reviving valuable research and connecting disparate information sources/resources.
Proving that large organisations can be as agile and innovative as start-ups. They simply need to leverage the right tools and networks.