SMEs eyeing slice of UK defense spending risk fight to safeguard their IP
By Douglas Clarke-Williams ( July 15, 2026, 12:14 GMT | Comment) -- As the UK scrambles to increase defense spending in reaction to geopolitical threats, the government’s commitment to usher more small British businesses into the supply chain could be stymied by the perception among some SMEs that contracting with the Ministry of Defence could come at the cost of their intellectual property.The recent publication of the long-delayed UK Defence Investment Plan brought an anticipated focus on defense spending as a driver for economic growth, with a stated intention to prioritize British companies when procuring military tech....
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