Innovation in Defence

Driving collaboration and discovery-oriented learning across Defence

Our three innovation courses

Innovation Essentials
Innovation Essentials is a seven-day agile design sprint for aspiring Defence innovators. To begin your innovation journey you will learn fundamental innovation theory and build a toolkit of skills, taking you from problem identification to scaling viable solutions in your Defence context.
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Innovation in Practice
Innovation in Practice is for Defence innovators seeking to develop and scale their ideas. Whether your problem area is focused on disruptive, cutting-edge technologies, or tackling an everyday process, system or practice, this course will enable you to apply innovation methodologies to take your ideas through to impact.
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Strategic Innovation
Strategic Innovation is a practical and dynamic course that brings together leaders from across Defence. Through expert panels and talks, deliberative discussions, and executive-level mentoring, you will explore best practices for enabling innovation as an individual, for those you lead, and more broadly across Defence.
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Innovation
Essentials

Course objectives
In this collaborative course, you will build your own innovation toolkit. You will embrace challenges and learn to innovate by applying user-centred design methods for problem identification, user research, synthesis and ideation, prototyping and testing, and scaling ideas. Throughout the course, you will apply your learning within the Defence context.
Who this course is for
The course is open to anyone in Defence, regardless of rank or service. If you are curious about innovation and how it works in practice, this is the course for you. The course will be held on a rank-blind basis.
Course length and dates
Seven full days total during Autumn 2023. An in-person launch event will take place on 13th September, followed by five online learning days in the week commencing 18th September, and an in-person graduation ceremony on 4th October.

In-person launch: 13/09/23
Online learning days: 18/09/23 to 22/09/23
In-person graduation: 04/10/23
Mode of delivery
Full-time learning will take place online, with the exception of the launch and graduation events held in-person in London. You will learn through collaborative online workshops, keynote speeches and expert panels; complete independent learning through our online learning platform, The Lab.

This course is free for Defence staff (aside from travel costs). Lunch will be provided for in-person learning days.
Application deadline
The application deadline was the 21st August 2023.

Applications Now Closed

Please apply to the Innovation in Practice or Strategic Innovation courses below.

Find out more

25 November & 2 December 2022
To register your interest in attending our upcoming information sessions, click the box below:
Register Your Interest

Innovation in Practice

Course objectives
In this applied course, you will work on your own innovation project, taking your chosen problem through the innovation process. You will identify the problem you are looking to solve, conduct user research, ideate and test solutions through red teaming and a hackathon, develop methods to trial and scale your solution, and create a business case.
Who this course is for
This course is open to anyone in Defence, regardless of rank or service. If you have already identified some knotty innovation challenges you want to engage with, this is the course for you. Prior innovation training is welcome but not a prerequisite for enrolment. The course will be held on a rank-blind basis.
Course length and dates
12 full days total during Spring 2024. Full-time learning will take place in two separate weeks across two months, with Cohort 1 on the weeks commencing 29th January and 11th March, and Cohort 2 on the weeks commencing 5th February and 18th March. A launch and graduation event for both cohorts will take place on January 24th and April 17th respectively.

In-person launch: 24/01/24
Cohort 1 online learning days: 29/01/24 to 02/02/24 ; 11/03/24 to 15/03/24 (excluding in-person hackathon 14/03/24)
Cohort 2 online learning days: 05/02/24 to 09/02/24 ; 18/03/24 to 22/03/24 (excluding in-person hackathon 21/03/24)
In-person graduation: 17/04/24
Mode of delivery
Learning will take place online, with the exception of the launch, hackathon and graduation events held in-person in London. You will learn through hands-on, collaborative exercises with a network of Defence innovators; complete independent learning through our online learning platform, The Lab; and attend a mentoring session on user research.

This course is free for Defence staff (aside from travel costs). Lunch will be provided for in-person learning days.

Applications Now Open

To apply, click the box below and complete the form:
Apply Now

Find out more

25 November & 2 December 2022
To register your interest in attending our upcoming information sessions, click the box below:
Register Your Interest

Strategic Innovation

Course objectives
In this course, you will unpack Defence's unique innovation challenges and opportunities. In collaboration with other MOD leaders, you will explore the role of culture, behaviours, structures and processes, spaces, and partnerships in enabling innovation. As you unpack the layers of your innovation systems, you will apply a range of practical thinking tools and frameworks.
Who this course is for
This course is designed for MOD leaders seeking to advance and champion Defence’s wider innovation mission. If you want to develop your strategic ability to lead innovation in your teams and across the MOD, this is the course for you.
Course length and dates
Five full days total over five months during Spring 2024. Full-time learning will take place on one day per month from February to June.

Day 1: Cohort 1, 26/02/24 ; Cohort 2, 04/03/24
Day 2: Cohort 1, 25/03/24 ; Cohort 2, 15/04/24
Day 3: Cohort 1, 29/04/24 ; Cohort 2, 13/05/24
Day 4: Cohort 1, 03/06/24 ; Cohort 2, 10/06/24
Day 5: Combined Cohort Graduation, 28/06/24
Mode of deilvery
All learning days will be held in-person in London. You will learn through interactive case studies and executive-level coaching from individually-matched innovators.

This course is free for Defence staff (aside from travel costs). Lunch will be provided for in-person learning days.

Applications Now Open

To apply, click the box below and complete the form:
Apply Now

Find out more

25 November & 2 December 2022
To register your interest in attending our upcoming information sessions, click the box below:
Register Your Interest

Frequently Asked Questions

Which course should I choose?

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If you have little experience in innovation projects, and you're keen to learn more about the innovation process, Innovation Essentials is where you should start.

If you have already identified a Defence challenge you'd like to tackle through an innovation project, Innovation in Practice is for you.

If you're a Defence leader, looking to enable your teams for innovation success, Strategic Innovation is the course for you.

Can I apply for more than one course?

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Yes. Feel free to apply for multiple courses and select all of the cohorts for which you are available.

Are the courses free?

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Yes, aside from any travel and accommodation costs. At all in-person learning days, breakfast and lunch will also be provided free of charge.

Are the courses accredited?

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These courses are not accredited, however you will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the course.

How much time do I need to devote to the course?

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Innovation Essentials has a total of seven full-time learning days. All independent study requirements are built into these seven days.

Innovation in Practice has a total of 12 full-time learning days. Additional to this, approximately 2 full days of independent study are required between the two halves of the course.

Strategic Innovation has a total of five full-time, in-person learning days - one day per month, spread over five months. Additional to this, approximately 2-4 hours of independent study is required per month for the duration of the course.

Why can't I apply for Innovation Essentials?

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The application deadline for Innovation Essentials was the 21st August. Unfortunately, we are unable to take applications after this date.

This year, this course has been oversubscribed, however there are still spaces available on Innovation in Practice. Feel free to apply to this course on the link above.

Will the courses be running next year?

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Yes! If you're not able to secure a place on the course of your choice this year, you will be able to apply again for the following academic year. Bookmark this page or submit your details here to stay informed about future courses.

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about the

PUBLIC exists to help governments, public bodies and partners transform the way they operate and innovate for the digital age. At the PUBLIC School of Technology, we believe that an organisation’s people are at the centre of this journey, and that they should be enabled and empowered to find creative solutions to society’s biggest challenges. The PUBLIC School of Technology offers a radically different learning experience, led by an network of digital innovators, entrepreneurs and investors.
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