Britain’s National Wealth Fund has made its first-ever investment in the defence sector, committing £25 million ($34 million) to fast-growing engineering company Rowden to support new
manufacturing facilities and job creation.
The funding, announced Wednesday, marks the fund’s debut move into the defence and national security industries since its launch in 2024. The state-backed investment vehicle was created to stimulate economic growth, with a primary focus on financing projects linked to the UK’s transition to net zero emissions.
Bristol-based Rowden develops sensing and information systems designed to operate in low-connectivity environments. Its technology is used by customers including the UK Ministry of Defence and emergency services.
The new capital injection will enable the company to open two additional sites and create around 100 jobs over the next year.
“Defence is an engine for growth, and this is what it looks like in practice,” Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said in a statement.
The government described Rowden as one of Europe’s fastest-growing engineering companies. The business was founded by chief executive Rob Harper, a former British Army officer.
Rowden is also contributing to the AUKUS AI for Acoustics programme, with its technology being adapted for deployment on next-generation submarines. Photo by Londoneye, Wikimedia commons.
