The DIAG was established in October 2016 as the primary collaborative forum between Government and industry as the opportunities and challenges emerge in the move to autonomous flight, beyond visual line of sight. In particular, the IAG aims to identify and respond to immediate barriers to growth in areas such as technology development, business investment and collaboration, access to new sectors and markets, intellectual property, testing, training and data management.

MISSION 

The then BEIS Secretary of State invited Professor Iain Gray as Chair to convene a broad range of business voices (including R&D and academia) to inform, support and shape the business environment facing companies in this sector, building on the work of the Pathfinder Programme.

OBJECTIVES

• Foster innovation and collaboration that will support the growth of commercial drone applications and wider use of drone technologies and solutions in the UK
• Facilitate the adoption of drones in a wide range of uses across the UK public and private sector, as well as monitoring, reviewing and inputing to appropriate standards.
• Develop opportunities for adoption of drones and facilitate coordination, collaboration and exploitation of technology and an air traffic management system in the UK that integrates drones and wider General Aviation.  
• Enable an industry led voice into Government and establishment of a framework that mitigates the misuse of drones and addresses societal concerns

ABOUT THE DIAG

The DIAG is a multi-stakeholder forum where practical and collaborative actions can be discussed and taken to develop the drone industry. It seeks to establish itself as the voice of the UK drones industry, engaging with the government and its relevant programmes and agencies, as well as academia, research and technology offices, regulators, investors and end-users. It aspires to understand sector opportunities and challenges and identify actions needed to address and overcome them. Members are expected to play an active role in delivering the Mission and Objectives. The group will be an active communicator of sector and industry news and will connect with other industry forums to coordinate messaging and activity (including ADS, ATI, ARPAS-UK, RAeS, APPGs, Aviary Project, Pathfinder Programme). 

The Secretariat function for the DIAG is currently provided by the Department of Science, Innovation & Technology (previously BEIS: Dept for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy) – contact gordon.baker@beis.gov.uk) 

MEMBERSHIP 

Membership of the DIAG will be comprised of industry and government stakeholders, including. 

1. Business leaders who can demonstrate capability (technology, products, services) that are relevant to the UK drones sector 
2. Academics or thought leaders from universities and research and technology organisations that can demonstrate capabilities (research programmes, industrial partnerships, ‘laboratory’ environments, training and skills provisions) that are directly applicable to the UK drones sector
3. Consultants who can evidence market understanding and thought leadership relevant to drones, and demonstrate collaborative ways of working to derive mutual benefit with industry 
4. End users and investors who can demonstrate their desire to support, through projects and programmes, the UAV sector, or those who have a leading role in supporting the growth of the UK UAV sector
5. Government departments, Government agencies and other public bodies, public corporation and Devolved Administrations who can demonstrate their desire to engage with drone issues and commit to supporting the development of the UK drone sector
6. The final decision on membership to the Group will be at the discretion of the Chair and the Secretariat. The Chair and Secretariat will consider membership using the following criteria:
7. Seeking a balanced membership across the drone value chain;
8. Including individuals with the knowledge, experience and authority to contribute to the Group, to expand the influence, impact or reach of the Group (e.g. other memberships) or where their contribution to the Group enhances the Group’s output and progress.
9. On occasion, nominations may be discussed within the Group, or be asked to present to the Group to support their applications. 
10. Organisations may have more than one representative, provided they can demonstrate their representatives bring complementary skills and experience. There is currently no limit to the size of the Group or to the length of membership, but this will be reviewed from time to time, along with these Terms of Reference. Attendance will be monitored, and while DIAG members may send a suitable substitute to some meetings, the DIAG member shall remain the point of contact. Frequent non-attendance (including sending of substitutes) will be scrutinised by the Chair and Secretariat for the purposes of reviewing membership.  
11. The DIAG is expected to form smaller working groups, which could contain non-members where appropriate. Participation, contribution and attendance (or otherwise) to the working groups will be monitored and scrutinised to the same extent as the DIAG, to ensure engagement from all participants. 

BEHAVIOUR 

All members will behave with integrity and refrain from any action that may gain them a specific competitive advantage at the expense of a competitor member, or that might in any way gain an advantage or restrict competition in the market. While members are entitled to make use of any information gained from within the Group (subject to any stated restrictions) within their own organisation, any further use, especially sharing with third parties, should not be made without prior authority from the Chair.

The group may nominate members to represent the DIAG on external committees and groups by the authority of the Chair and Secretariat. Such nominees will endeavour to represent 1) the best interests of the industry as represented by the DIAG, and 2) their own organisation, in that order of priority.