Drone Major has announced a strategic partnership with public sector technology company Contract Finder Pro to help UK defence and drone sector suppliers identify and secure government contract opportunities more effectively.
The agreement integrates Contract Finder Pro's AI-assisted procurement technology into Drone Major's managed procurement services platform, which the company describes as the first of its kind for the global drone industry. The move is intended to simplify access to public sector opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating across the defence, drone and robotics sectors.
According to the companies, the partnership will enable suppliers using the Drone Major platform to identify relevant procurement opportunities more quickly and submit bids more efficiently, reducing the administrative burden often associated with navigating multiple government procurement portals.
Drone Major said many SMEs have historically struggled to compete for large public sector contracts because opportunities can be difficult to locate and manage across a complex procurement landscape. By integrating Contract Finder Pro's technology, the company aims to improve visibility of available contracts and increase SME participation in major defence and infrastructure programmes.
Robert Garbett, founder and chief executive of Drone Major, said the initiative would help address longstanding barriers to market access.
"The UK's defence and drone sectors are driven by innovative SMEs, but too many public sector opportunities have been obscured beneath layers of bureaucracy," he said. "By integrating Contract Finder Pro into our managed procurement platform, we're transforming the ability of suppliers to identify, access and compete for government contracts previously impossible."
He added: "This partnership will help unlock greater SME participation in major public sector programmes, strengthen the UK's defence supply chain, and accelerate innovation across the British defence and drone industry."
The announcement comes at a time of significant growth for the global drone and robotics market. Drone Major cites forecasts suggesting the sector could expand from £55 billion in 2024 to £121 billion by 2030, creating substantial opportunities for UK technology companies and manufacturers.
The partnership also follows increased government focus on defence investment and autonomous technologies. Recent UK defence spending plans include additional funding for defence capabilities, with drones expected to play an increasingly important role in future military operations and security applications.
Drone Major's supplier platform is built around a business-to-business marketplace that connects buyers with vetted suppliers from across the international drone and robotics ecosystem. The company said the addition of Contract Finder Pro's procurement data and AI capabilities will strengthen its ability to deliver end-to-end programmes for customers.
Beyond identifying procurement opportunities, the platform is designed to manage the wider supply chain process, including supplier evaluation, vendor selection, compliance requirements, project management, logistics, quality control and final delivery. Drone Major said it also supports regulatory approval processes, including beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations where required.
The company believes the enhanced platform will create a more streamlined route for SMEs seeking to enter public sector supply chains, while helping contracting authorities access specialist technologies and innovation from throughout the UK's rapidly expanding drone and robotics sector.
The Drone Major platform can be accessed
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