Defence
About Defence
Defence Scientific Advisory Council (DSAC)
The Defence Scientific Advisory Council (DSAC) provides independent advice to the Secretary of State for Defence on matters of concern to the Ministry of Defence in the fields of Science, Engineering, Technology and Analysis (SETA).
DSAC is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) i.e. a body which has a role in the process of national government but is not a government department or part of one, and which accordingly operates to a greater or lesser extent at arm's length from Ministers. It is an Advisory NDPB in that it advises Ministers and does not employ staff or incurs expenditure on its own account.
DSAC is established to provide independent advice to the Secretary of State for Defence on matters of concern to the Ministry of Defence in the fields of Science, Engineering, Technology and Analysis.
Mission Statement
To underpin the Defence Mission and Vision through the provision of authoritative independent advice to Secretary of State for Defence and senior MOD sponsors on non-nuclear Science, Engineering, Technology, and Analysis (SETA) issues.
Vision
To be the benchmark for independent SETA advice to Government.
Terms of Reference
From a SETA perspective, DSAC will provide advice on:
- all aspects of the MOD research and development programme, including direction, content, exploitation, balance and changes, and value for money
- the use of SETA resources within MOD
- ways of achieving cross cutting capabilities, from conception to disposal and across all Defence Lines of Development;
- operational issues;
- ad hoc issues, including broad strategic issues, priorities and policies internal to MOD and those that are external to, but will impact upon, MOD;
- emerging external developments, innovation, opportunities and threats to MOD, both national and international
Whilst MOD and DSAC will work together to instigate studies in all these areas, DSAC should identify and drive the instigation of studies and reviews in the areas of research and SETA capability.
DSAC should work with key International partners where appropriate.
The Chairman of DSAC reports annually to Min (DEST) on behalf of the Secretary of State.
DSAC's remit has evolved from its primary role of reviewing and advising the research programme to taking a more strategic view of all SETA aspects across MOD on behalf of the Secretary of State. DSAC does not provide scientific or technical advice to suppliers of research.
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