Keywords
Citation
(2001), "Towards bright commercial future", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 73 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2001.12773eab.009
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2001, MCB UP Limited
Towards bright commercial future
Towards bright commercial futureKeywords: DERA, QinetiQ
A new science and technology company, which is already a major player in its field, was recently created with the official vesting of NewDERA (the larger part of the UK Government's Defence, Evaluation and Research Agency) as a plc. The British Parliament having approved changes to DERA's previous trading fund status, the creation of the plc is an important milestone in the development of NewDERA as a public private partnership. Initially, all the shares will be owned by the UK Government.
To reflect its change of status and clearly differentiate it from that part of DERA which is remaining within the civil service, NewDERA has been named QinetiQ. DERA explain that the name has been derived from the scientific term, kinetic, which means "relating to or caused by motion" and in turn comes from the Greek, kinetikos based on "kineo" which means "to move". It was carefully chosen as the outright winner from an original list of 400 which resulted from extensive analysis of all DERA's capabilities and strengths. Using strict criteria the list was refined and a short-list taken through MORI research amongst staff, customers, Ministry of Defence and opinion formers. QinetiQ was seen as particularly distinctive and reflects the organisation's spirit of innovation and creativity but also energy, motion and progress.