Craighead Kellas Joins R-Cloud Framework
Craighead Kellas SAAR (CKS) is pleased to announce that it has been accepted onto the UK Ministry of Defence R-Cloud marketplace for defence science and technology research. This reinforces the company’s position as a trusted supplier of strategic and applied research for defence and security clients.
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About R-Cloud
Managed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence, R-Cloud provides access to specialist providers and world-class analytical expertise in science and technology research. R-Cloud opportunities are fundamental and applied research tasks, across technology readiness levels (TRL). TRLs are MoD-defined, managing and assessing the maturity of evolving technologies. R-Cloud addresses the first six of the MoD’s nine technology readiness levels. These are:
TRL 1: Basic principles observed and reported.
TRL 2: Technology concept and/or application formulated.
TRL 3: Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof-of-concept.
TRL 4: Technology basic validation in a laboratory environment.
TRL 5: Technology basic validation in a relevant environment.
TRL 6: Technology model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment.
For more information about R-Cloud:
Webpage: UK Government webpage
About Craighead Kellas
CKS specialises in strategic and applied research (SAAR): intelligence defined, optimised for service, and grounded in real-world outcomes. The company provides its services worldwide on an outsourced research-as-a-service basis. Clients benefit from proven, reliable research capabilities, organised to their specific needs. Craighead Kellas is known for operating discreetly and efficiently, ensuring independent, high-quality research design, planning and implementation in support of complex initiatives and mandates. In addition to R-Cloud, CKS is a member of the BAE Systems-led Analysis for Science and Technology Research in Defence (ASTRID) framework, and of the British Chamber of Commerce Dubai.
Capabilities and Contacts
Mike Innes founded and manages CKS, and he is the company’s lead consultant. Dan Davies manages business development.
Dr. Michael A. Innes - Managing Director / lead consultant. Mike leads on the design and delivery of client services. Based in Dubai, he divides his time between the UAE, the UK, and assignments elsewhere. He has over 20 years’ experience in evidence-led defence, legal, policy, and risk research, specialising in emerging technologies, rule of law, illicit economies, and geopolitics, defence, and security matters. He served as a civilian official at NATO and the United Nations, and briefly as a soldier. Academically trained as an historian and political scientist, he earned his PhD from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies and read law at Birkbeck.
Dan Davies – Business Development Manager. Dan leads on all business development matters, helping clients identify business needs and proposing effective solutions. Based in the UK, he has almost 15 years’ experience supporting UK Defence-funded projects, specialising in technology development and testing (especially unmanned systems), use case design, commercial exploitation, innovation strategy, and government engagement. His background in anthropology and defence markets enables him to connect research with practical policy and operational needs. He is currently working on a PhD in anthropology at the University of St. Andrews.
CKS services are founder-led. For more complex or technical project implementation, we ensure value for money by drawing on a small, vetted roster of trusted specialists and partners, and an extensive network of connections and resources in academic and non-academic research communities.
Craighead Kellas looks forward to applying its expertise to the most pressing challenges in defence and security through R-Cloud, expanding its support to the UK’s defence and security community, and contributing to the development of future-ready strategies and policies.
Contacting Us
Craighead Kellas is committed to excellence in research and innovation. We welcome queries from large primes, framework and consortium managers, outsourcing partners, or other organisations, offices and individuals. For more information, visit our website at CraigheadKellas.com.
For general business development and collaboration queries:
Email: enquiries@craigheadkellas.com
Phone (UK): +44 (0)207 100 9280
Phone (UAE): +971 (0)4 439 6305
[date of publication: 25 March 2025]