MINISTERS have launched a drive to encourage small hi-tech businesses to join larger firms in creating an innovative future for the UK defence industry.

Harriett Baldwin, Minister for Defence Procurement, unveiled the Defence and Security Accelerator to encourage small firms, academics and defence experts to use the latest technology to give the UK the edge.

The Maritime Enterprise Innovation Scotland Conference asked 300 delegates at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow to help the UK save lives and money, and win battles in the information age.

Ms Baldwin said: "The defence innovation initiative and £800 million defence innovation fund aim to encourage imagination, ingenuity and entrepreneurship in pursuit of maintaining a military advantage in the future."