In May 2019, the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed its first formal military order for EasiBridge — a landmark moment for the Devon-based micro-SME founded by Dr. Stephen Bright. Funded through a £77,086.80 Rapid Innovation Grant awarded by the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) in July 2018, EasiBridge had undergone rigorous military trials under the expert technical guidance of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). The verdict was unambiguous.
The order — placed by the Army Rapid Innovation and Experimentation Laboratory (ARIEL) — confirmed delivery of 3 bridges, 3 conveyors, and 1 footbridge to the Royal Engineers Trials and Development Unit (RETDU) for further operational testing. Seven new Super-Kit capabilities had been developed under the DASA programme, from materials-handling conveyors to blast-resistant roofing systems, all from one common set of 1.5-metre ladder-section components.
Brigadier Kev Copsey, Head of Future Force Development, left no doubt about the Army’s position:
“The Army is embracing emerging technologies and adopting innovation that eases the tasks of our people. We are delighted to be supporting a UK innovator, turning new ideas into military capability and putting it into the hands of soldiers quickly for trials and testing.”
DASA Head Lucy Mason described it as “a cross-defence innovation success story,” praising the exploitation process embedded from the very start of funding. Dr. Stephen Bright called it a turning point:
“I cannot tell you the renewed impetus this project has given us. After 3 years scratching around the wilderness, the last several months have already started to change everything. Exactly what DASA was intended to do, I’m sure.”
Source: GOV.UK / Defence and Security Accelerator — “Army harnesses UK bridging innovation”