Hexsor Scientific was proud to participate in the panel discussion “Getting to know MOD – UK Defence Innovation and Regional Growth” at DSEI UK 2025, one of the world’s leading defence and security exhibitions. The session brought together perspectives from across the Regional Defence and Security Clusters (RDSCs) to explore how regional strengths and innovation are contributing to the growth of the UK’s defence sector.
Representing SMEs on the Global Stage
Dr. Jeyan Sreekumar, President and CEO of Hexsor Scientific, joined the panel alongside Prof Andrew Schofield (North West RDSC), Dr Neil Skelland (South West RDSC), and Victoria Glennon (Plymouth City Council, South West RDSC). As a founding President and CEO of Hexsor and a proud member of the North West RDSC, Dr. Sreekumar shared the journey of Hexsor Scientific – from a university spin-out in Liverpool to an award-winning SME operating on both sides of the Atlantic, with a Canadian presence in Nova Scotia through the Innovate UK Global Incubation Mission.
Driving Dual-Use Innovation
At the panel, Dr. Sreekumar highlighted Hexsor’s experience in dual-use innovation, demonstrating how technologies designed for environmental monitoring can be adapted to support defence and security objectives:
“Our real-time inline and portable analytical platforms, designed for monitoring water and air quality, marine pollution, and field-use in agriculture, are equally suited for homeland security and deployed operations, detecting chemical threats or substances in remote locations. This dual-use model demonstrates how innovation from SMEs can deliver value not only for defence resilience and operational readiness, but also for wider sustainability and net-zero goals.”
A key example shared was Hexsor’s successful delivery of a solution for the Royal Canadian Navy, developed in partnership with Thales Canada and COVE, with support from ACOA. This project improved onboard air quality monitoring and positioned Hexsor strongly in the defence and security domain internationally.
The Role of Regional Defence and Security Clusters
Dr. Sreekumar emphasized the crucial role of the North West RDSC in opening doors for SMEs:
“The North West RDSC has been invaluable in helping Hexsor connect with primes, integrators, and innovation partners we simply couldn’t reach on our own. It enables SMEs to contribute meaningfully to defence innovation while scaling our solutions for wider societal impact.”
The discussion underscored how regional clusters and SMEs are essential for the UK’s defence innovation ecosystem, fostering collaboration, agility, and the rapid deployment of cutting-edge technologies.
Looking Ahead
Hexsor Scientific continues to explore opportunities to integrate its real-time inline and portable sensor systems into defence, environmental, and industrial applications. By bridging defence innovation and sustainability, Hexsor is committed to supporting operational readiness while contributing to a greener, safer future.
For enquiries about Hexsor’s technologies, collaborations, or dual-use solutions, contact us
