£50 million investment to boost marine innovation and defence capability in Plymouth

Image: Minister of State Lord Coaker pictured in Turnchapel Wharf as part of the official launch of the Plymouth Defence Growth Deal.

PML’s Professor James Fishwick was privileged to attend the official launch of the Plymouth Defence Growth Deal by Minister of State Lord Coaker in Plymouth on Wednesday 8th April.   

The funding, delivered through the Plymouth Defence Growth Deal, marks another major step forward for the region’s marine science and technology community – reinforcing Plymouth’s position as a leader in maritime autonomy and national security. 

For organisations like PML, this investment creates new opportunities to strengthen collaboration between research, industry and government – particularly in areas such as marine autonomy, environmental monitoring and data-driven decision-making at sea. 

Plymouth has long been recognised for its unique marine science ecosystem, bringing together world-leading research organisations, defence and industry – and just last year was named the National Centre for Marine Autonomy, by the Minister of State – Defence Procurement and Industry. This latest investment will further strengthen that environment, supporting the development and testing of cutting-edge technologies in real-world marine settings. 

The city is already home to leading initiatives such as the PML led Smart Sound Plymouth – a world-leading testing facility for marine autonomy, uncrewed systems and advanced ocean technologies, with access to authorised water space in the Plymouth Sound. 

WATCH NOW: DISCOVER SMART SOUND PLYMOUTH 

Smart Sound Plymouth – operated by Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) – is a catalyst for maritime solutions and innovation backed by decades of expertise across defence, offshore industries, and marine science. 

There is a clear alignment between environmental science and emerging defence technologies. Advances in autonomous systems, sensing technologies and data infrastructure not only support national security, but also improve our ability to monitor and manage the marine environment. 

Just recently, PML and partners completed a successful sampling campaign in the Plymouth Sound with uncrewed surface vessel (USV) AutoNaut ‘Pioneer’. The vessel autonomously sampled the Plymouth Sound for biodiversity data; collecting plankton images with a UVP-6 Plankton Imager, and environmental DNA (eDNA) samples triggered intelligently by real-time chlorophyll concentrations with a RoSCI eDNA sampler.  

Further demonstrating the significance of this data collection, it is thought that this is the first time a RoSCI eDNA sampler has ever been deployed on an autonomous surface vessel in Europe.   

Professor James Fishwick, Head of Smart Sound Plymouth and Head of Marine Technology and Autonomy at PML, commented on the news of the investment: 

“Plymouth is fast becoming a global centre for marine autonomy, and Smart Sound Plymouth is at the heart of that. This investment will help unlock new opportunities to test, scale and deploy cutting-edge technologies – accelerating innovation that benefits both defence and the marine environment.” 

Image: PML’s Professor James Fishwick pictured at the official launch of the Plymouth Defence Growth Deal. 

Image: A group photo of colleagues attending the official launch of the Plymouth Defence Growth Deal.

Above: HRH Princess Royal speaking with Plymouth Marine Laboratory’s Professor James Fishwick in the Smart Sound Laboratory.

PML Applications, our commercial subsidiary, also welcomes the investment and the opportunities it brings for accelerating marine technology development and deployment. 

Through its Centre for Coastal Technologies, PML Applications provides a fully integrated “gateway to the sea” – supporting the safe testing, validation and operation of new systems in real-world conditions.  

With deep expertise in marine operations, security-cleared personnel, and established relationships with major defence organisations, PML Applications plays a key role in helping translate innovation into operational capability. 

PML Applications’ Sam Fawcett, Manager of the Centre for Coastal Technologies, said: 

“At PML Applications, we’re focused on helping partners move from concept to deployment as efficiently as possible. This investment strengthens the infrastructure and capability we have here in Plymouth – making it easier to test, validate and operate new marine technologies safely in real-world conditions.” 

The Growth Deal also includes significant investment in skills and training, creating new pathways into marine and defence-related careers across the Southwest. By expanding technical training and education provision, the programme will help build the workforce needed to support a rapidly evolving sector. 

This is particularly important for the future of marine science and innovation. Strengthening links between education, research and industry will ensure that early career researchers and students are equipped with the interdisciplinary skills needed to tackle complex global challenges. 

The announcement builds on wider efforts to establish Plymouth as a leading centre for marine autonomy and innovation. With continued investment in infrastructure, testing facilities and collaborative programmes, the region is well placed to support the development and deployment of next-generation marine technologies.