The private sector element of the UK Defence Evaluation and Research Agency will change its name to QinetiQ when it becomes a standalone company on 2 July. The UK Government will split the research and development agency, keeping 25% of the operation - to be known as the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory - to manage the Ministry of Defence's research and international collaboration programmes, and sensitive areas such as the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector at Porton Down and the Centre for Defence Analysis. The other 75%, QinetiQ, will become a publically quoted company but will initially be owned by the government until a flotation in early 2002.
Source: Flight International
