The announcement recognises the University's strengths in research, innovation, education and skills that contribute to a safer, more secure and resilient society.

The Defence Universities Alliance is a collaborative, strategic network of UK Universities who are publicly committed to partnering with the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the UK Armed Forces, the Office of the Chief Scientific Advisor for National Security, and the wider defence sector. 

Newcastle University will bring its distinctive whole-of-society approach, combining expertise from across science, engineering, computing, health, social sciences and business to help tackle challenges that span technology, societal and environmental resilience and the security and wellbeing of our communities. This reflects the reality that today's security issues extend beyond any one discipline and require collaboration across sectors, communities and professions. 

The flagship alliance follows an £80 million MOD investment in 2,500 student places across 24 universities and colleges, including £4m for Newcastle University to support student places in key engineering disciplines linked to defence and emerging technologies. 

Professor Chris Day, Vice-Chancellor and President of Newcastle University, said: "At Newcastle, we recognise that national security and resilience are shaped by many interconnected factors. Alongside advances in engineering and technology, they depend on resilient infrastructure, trusted digital systems, healthy communities, effective policy and a highly skilled workforce.  

“Membership of the Defence Universities Alliance will create new opportunities for our students, researchers and partners through collaboration, skills development and innovation. It will strengthen our contribution to the economy, support highly skilled jobs and help develop the talent and technologies needed for the UK's future security, resilience and prosperity.”

Bringing together defence and academia

Launched today by Defence Minister Luke Pollard MP at the University of Manchester, the DUA will bring together defence and academia to strengthen research, develop critical skills and build the highly skilled workforce needed to support the UK's future defence capability. 

Luke Pollard MP, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said: “As we prepare for warfighting readiness, working with universities, students and innovators boosts skills and helps keep our country safe. The Defence Universities Alliance will create meaningful connections between students, academia and defence, boosting research, skills and defence expertise across the UK to strengthen industry. Universities play a key role in innovating and supporting defence, and the DUA helps marshal those efforts. 

 “In this new era of threat our £182 million defence skills package is helping to create opportunities for students, apprentices and young people, making sure our historic £298 billion defence investment is an engine for growth across the UK, and building on the more than 272,000 industry jobs supported by MOD spending.”

Strengthening security and resilience

Newcastle University's strengths span cyber security, trusted artificial intelligence, digital technologies, engineering, robotics and autonomous systems, advanced manufacturing, health, infrastructure, societal resilience and public policy. By bringing these together, the University contributes to the prosperity and resilience of the North East while helping to strengthen the security, resilience and economic competitiveness of the UK as a whole. 

Professor Matthew Grenby, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, said: “As founding members of the Defence Universities Alliance, we will work collaboratively to strengthen the UK's resilience, support sovereign capabilities and ensure research continues to deliver benefits for society while upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency and ethical responsibility.” 

All research and innovation at Newcastle University is underpinned by robust governance, ethical oversight and a commitment to academic freedom and public value.  

Through collaboration with government, industry, the armed forces and local communities, the University will continue to advance knowledge, educate future leaders and support innovation that delivers lasting benefits for society. 

Find out more about our research in Security and Defence here.