U.K. industry specialU.K., U.S. work together toward shared goals // Sir Alan Collins

Published 13 March 2008

The shared goal of both the United States and the United Kingdom is safeguarding our citizens and the security of key national assets. Our governments are working collaboratively and have long recognized the need to work closely on science and technologies for security

Dear Colleague,

Amid the current climate of heightened security worldwide, there has never been a more important role for high-tech, knowledge-based companies to play, and U.K. companies are among those leading the security industry in developing new technologies to meet new challenges. This is no accident.

The United Kingdom is, after all, a world leader in innovation and design, and actively encourages entrepreneurship. Combined with the government’s commitment to innovation and commercialization, and its openness to foreign investors and contractors, the U.K. security industry has flourished.

In fact, the United Kingdom accounts for approximately 7 percent of the world security industry, and has developed one of the world’s most robust capabilities in threat assessment, counter-terrorism, and surveillance.

Of course, the shared goal of both the United States and the United Kingdom is safeguarding our citizens and the security of key national assets. Our governments are working collaboratively and have long recognized the need to work closely on science and technologies for security. In 2004 the U.K. Home Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for co-operation in science and technology for Critical Infrastructure Protection and Other Homeland and Civil Security Matters. The United Kingdom values this relationship.

As such, U.K. Trade & Investment (UKTI)