Industry Partners

The Centre for Doctoral Training in Sensing, Processing, and AI for Defence and Security (SPADS) trains the next generation of defence scientists looking to build their careers in the defence and security sector. SPADS provides world-class training for students with the breadth and depth of expertise needed to innovate generation-after-next technology crucial to current and real-life defence and security challenges.

Over the next eight years, we will support and collaborate closely with the SPADS CDT to strengthen the UK’s position at the forefront of technological innovation. This transformational initiative will equip the next generation of defence scientists, who will play a critical role in addressing future challenges and ensuring the security of our nation.

Prof Andy Bell Dstl Chief S&T Officer (CSTO)

How to get involved

We are looking for companies to propose or co-create with us, challenging, needs-driven projects to address some of the most strategically important areas facing the defence and security sector. Projects must align with SPADS’ research focus, and it is intended that these projects will make an original contribution to the company’s activities and practices or to knowledge for the sector. Previous PhD students have worked on research projects with sponsors such as Leonardo UK, ST Microelectronics, AMD, and Saab. 

Industry Case Studentships

Previous case studentships with industry have been really popular where a student addresses research based on a specific industry challenge using industry data, facilities and current knowledge. Some success stories can be seen below.

We welcome projects proposed by partners, and projects co-developed with a partner and SPADS academic. Partners are also welcome to sponsor an existing unpartnered project, in which case we welcome discussions on refining the project direction.

View projects our students are currently working on:

2024 Cohort

2025 Cohort

2026 Cohort


SPADS Partner Brochure (3.72 MB / PDF)

Benefits: more than a PhD

The University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University’s new Centre for Doctoral Training Programme focuses on generation-after-next technologies for information processing in defence and security, and spans the entire range from hardware development to algorithmic AI development.

Collaborating with SPADS as an industry partner can offer access to a talent pipeline of students working to address the critical needs of the defence industry in today’s increasingly unstable global and political climate. 

This offers a unique opportunity for the UK defence sector to develop a training environment that meets its current and future needs.

• Co-create PhD projects with experts in multiple fields

• Gain access to a large network of world-leading academics and gain early-access view of current research

• Help shape the overall research agenda at programme level

• Close student-industrial sponsor contact is built in, to ensure student education meets your staffing needs

• Rich suite of CPD ensures students understand the business, ethical, social, strategic and security context of their work

• Stay in the loop by participation in a defence and security network

We gain privileged access to cutting-edge technologies and advanced research concepts. The PhD projects we currently have within the CDT directly contribute to our R&D capabilities by delivering novel machine learning and AI methodologies tailored to our applications in imaging, photonics and other technologies. This accelerates our capability to integrate state-of-the-art AI techniques within our technology development.

Dr. Robert Nicol, Technology Development Manager, STMicroelectronics

Partners: 

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