In November 2025, MurrayTwohig in collaboration with innovation firm Plexal convened a stellar group of experts, innovators and local leaders at the Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport, England to explore the development of a place-based national security and defence cluster across Gosport, Portsmouth and Fareham. This Summit drew on Plexal’s experience in national hub delivery alongside MurrayTwohig’s expertise in place-based regeneration, including the redevelopment of HMS Daedalus in nearby Lee-on-the-Solent, as well as our extensive experience working in centres of innovation including with Harvard Enterprise Campus and Oxford University’s Begbroke Science Park.
The ultimate goal of creating an innovation cluster is to align public sector investment with private sector enterprise and real estate development opportunities, bringing together industry, government and academia in specific places to develop centres of excellence and opportunity. This whole society approach delivers the most value to local communities – and ensures that the benefit of defence-based investment has the broadest possible impact.
The time is now. The Strategic Defence Review, Defence Industrial Strategy and Local Innovation Partnership are converging to create a unique opportunity to lead on innovation that strengthens our national capability, supports local businesses and delivers long-term regional growth.
Discussions throughout the Summit highlighted the potential to:
- Build on Hampshire’s existing strengths through an asset-based approach – mapping and connecting physical infrastructure, research capability and specialist expertise.
- Establish effective mechanisms for investment that direct funding and opportunity to local SMEs.
- Focus on capabilities rather than sectors, unlocking dual-use innovation.
- Improve access to testing and validation facilities, removing barriers – regulatory, financial or logistical – that slow innovation.
- Strengthen collaboration through systems thinking and co-investment between government, industry and academia, working closely with partners in the community and in real estate.
Our collective takeaway is clear: There are layers of opportunity, expertise and ambition in this region that, if aligned, could form a powerful case for coordinated investment – delivering meaningful benefit for the area, the region and the country.
This is the beginning of a much bigger conversation about how we connect, invest and collaborate to build a thriving, secure and innovative regional economy. Stay tuned – and please connect with our team if you’d like to learn more.