‘Many of these technologies designed for the battlefield are created with an emergency response in mind’

The GPS is a system with which we are all familiar but was, in fact, first developed by the military for navigation and precise location tracking at war. It was adapted for civilian use, which has allowed technologies like our mobile phones to carry out various location-based services like mapping routes and tracking walks.

And it’s not only technology or tools that have been created in government or military labs. They have also been responsible for major new drug discoveries or advancements in development.

The EpiPen was invented for use in the Cold War to stop severe reactions on the battlefield and was subsequently adapted for use in civilian healthcare. The US pioneered the large-scale development of penicillin during World War II.

Many of these technologies designed for the battlefield are created with an emergency response in mind. Their rapid development and use on the battlefield demonstrate the potential to create these new technologies at speed to tackle pressing issues.

Placing an emphasis on efficiency and effectiveness helps to ensure survival on the battlefield. While some military technology may be more relevant to civilian life than others, it is undeniable that identifying the dual uses of military research and innovation has massive potential to shape civilian life and healthcare.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) continues to develop innovative technologies, many of which have dual uses that can easily translate to civilian life off the battlefield.  Through its active investment in science and technology, its research and development amounts to around 3.9% of its overall budget (around £2.05 billion a year).

While much of the investment is focused on keeping troops safe, its research labs also continue to create new innovative healthcare solutions for the battlefield that also have the potential to save lives in civilian hospitals. In my role at Ploughshare, I work with scientists working in government labs and help them to spin-out and license their inventions for real-world applications.

This has uniquely positioned me to observe and understand the potential that these military innovations have in terms of aiding healthcare systems like the NHS. It has opened my eyes to the benefits of this fresh approach to developing medical technology.

Similarly, it has allowed me to see the challenges that MedTech start-up founders often face. Early-stage innovation startups, particularly in MedTech, often face a steep climb to survival.

The infamous ‘valley of death’ – a critical gap in support and funding – claims far too many promising ventures before they have a chance to establish themselves or generate steady revenue. For MedTech companies, the journey is even tougher.

Their innovations are bound by strict regulatory processes that demand extensive approvals, significant investment and years of development before reaching the market. This slow and expensive route isn’t exactly a magnet for investors seeking quick returns.

As a result, many groundbreaking ideas never make it beyond the prototype stage, stifling innovation and delaying potentially life-saving advancements in healthcare.  But it’s not all doom and gloom.

Support is out there for early-stage startups through initiatives like the Ploughshare Accelerator Fund (PAF) and the MedTech Accelerator Fund, which exist to bridge the gap and offer essential pre-seed and seed funding. Beyond just cash, these programmes help founders craft compelling business cases that instil confidence in future investors.

However, for MedTech innovation to truly flourish, the ecosystem needs more diverse funding streams and sustained support. The health breakthroughs of tomorrow depend on the investments we make today.

Although innovation may be stifled in the wider industry, innovation on the battlefield has no choice but to be continually evolving to react to the fast-paced, high-risk environment of the battlefield. These technologies are built with simplicity, speed and durability in mind – qualities that translate directly into better outcomes for civilian patients.

With the funding of the government behind them, these technologies with a new route to market have the potential to drastically impact the healthcare system. One such technology is an AI-powered solution that can detect the presence, or lack of, infection days before current diagnostic methods.

The technology, created by Presymptom Health – a Dstl spin-out company that was founded by scientists originally looking to save the lives of troops at threat from biological attacks – is likely to be made available to the NHS by 2025 and could be a crucial tool in tackling the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It enables doctors to ensure that antibiotics are only prescribed when necessary.

Not only will this reduce hospital costs, but it will also alleviate pressure surrounding NHS overcrowding as up to 38% of all UK emergency department admissions are patients with presumed infection who are potentially at risk of developing sepsis. The innovations born in military and government labs hold immense promise for transforming civilian healthcare.

From cutting-edge diagnostics to advanced treatment technologies, these discoveries could revolutionise how we prevent, detect and treat diseases. But to unlock this potential, we need to break down silos and create pathways that bring these innovations into the public sphere.

By fostering collaboration, funding early-stage ventures and championing the transition of military-grade technology into everyday healthcare, we can turn untapped potential into real-world impact, while ensuring that government funding is making maximum impact.