QINETIQ

From 1 April 1995, the Defence Evaluation & Research Agency (DERA) assumed the responsibilities of its predecessor the Defence Research Agency (DRA). DERA changed its title to QinetiQ on 2 July 2001.

The name QinetiQ has been derived from the scientific term, kinetic (phonetic: ki'ne tik), which means 'relating to or caused by motion'. This in turn comes from the Greek, kinetikos based on 'kineo' which means 'to move'.

Following the 2001 restructuring, certain functions of DERA, encompassing the majority of the organisation's capabilities for defence and security and amounting to approximately three quarters of DERA, were formed into QinetiQ Limited, an entity which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of QinetiQ Group plc. In February 2006 QinetiQ was listed on the London Stock Exchange with a market capitalisation of £1.3 billion.

A quarter of QinetiQ has been retained within the MoD as the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) to manage the research programme and the International Research Collaboration, along with other sensitive areas such as CBD (Chemical & Biological Defence), Porton Down.

The Group employs over 14,000 people of which some 6,400 are in North America, and operates over 40 UK sites with major technology facilities at Farnborough, Boscombe Down and Malvern.

Since 2004, QinetiQ has acquired 13 companies in North America including five during FY 2008-2009 and the company is expanding into Australia.

QinetiQ‘s global revenue was £1,366 million in the year to 31 March 2008 with a similar figure expected for FY 2009. The US business now accounts for over 45% of Group sales.

About 60% of the group’s UK employees are graduates and more than 700 hold PhDs. More than half of the employees in the UK are focussed on research, invention, development and application of new technology. There are strategic partnerships with 13 UK universities, and 30 QinetiQ staff have visiting professorships.

QinetiQ is organised into six major operational divisions:

Integrated Services (formerly Complex Managed Services)

• Test and evaluation

• Public sector strategic partnering, infrastructure rationalisation and operation

• Integrated acquisition support

• Asset management (e.g. logistics, calibration, technology upgrade, obsolescence management and disposal)

Sensors & Electronics

• Spectrum solutions

• Sensors, processing and integration

• Marine & acoustics

• Optronics

Knowledge and Information Systems

• Command & intelligence systems

• Information assurance

• Communications

• Technical consulting

• Human sciences

• Space

Future Systems and Technology

• Maritime

• Aerospace

• Vehicles, platforms and systems

• Weapons

• Energy

• Intelligence & control

• Materials

• Structures

North America

• Key focus on homeland security and defence markets

• Major customers include US Department of Defence, Department of Homeland Security and DARPA (Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency)

There is another operational element in Australia