The industrial partners in the DTC will guide the long-term research work in ways which will maximise the chances of successful pull-through, whilst maintaining a 'high risk, high payoff' approach to more speculative research. Key to success in this is the leadership within the DTC of individuals who are already engaged in directing higher TRL research within their companies and who contribute to product development strategies. They will now also be closely involved in the direction of research at lower maturity levels, ensuring the co-ordination of speculative and applied research work, and alignment of industrial and government funding.

The overall research programme of the DTC will thus be integrated with the technology plans of the participating companies, with basic research feeding into the exploitation plans that are part of the technology roadmaps of the individual companies. This strategy ensures that UK-based industry is well-placed to exploit the research to the benefit of MoD.

The processes operating in the DTC for assessment and selection of research will ensure that high priority is given to proposals having good exploitation potential and a high probability of successful incorporation into systems.

The DTC will take a pro-active approach to exploitation, actively seeking and following up opportunities, based on its research outcomes and its network of contacts. The DTC Technical Director will have primary responsibility for ensuring that exploitation is being successfully pursued.

The close involvement of MoD in all aspects of exploitation planning is crucial to the success of the DTC's exploitation strategy, so that the right technology at the right maturity level can be directed to the right places in order to support defence needs. Key to achieving this is maintaining positive and pro-active relationships with MoD stakeholders.

The DTC will primarily produce knowledge as a result of its research activities, but exploitation may also arise from the way in which the DTC develops its people, skills, tools, facilities and relationships.