Global technology group Chemring Group PLC. (LSE:CHG) has acquired Bristol-based Geollect in order to develop the open-source intelligence (OSINT) capabilities of its subsidiary Roke.
The acquisition aligns with Roke’s ongoing business strategy to facilitate Intellectual Property (IP) led growth, with continued investment in human resource, infrastructure and product development.
Geollect will work as part of a new business unit – Roke Intelligence as a Service – which will provide access to, and analysis of, open-source intelligence (OSINT).
Geollect’s capabilities in OSINT will complement Roke’s constantly developing offerings in data ingestion, artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science.
“Specialising in open-source intelligence and geolocation, Geollect is a perfect strategic and cultural fit, and offers significant expertise as we invest in next generation technologies and expand our product, service and capability offerings,” Roke Managing Director Paul MacGregor said.
Alongside geospatial platforms, the acquisition will unlock access to new and adjacent markets including maritime, insurance, critical national infrastructure, UK Special Forces, and investigatory tradecraft. Also, some 25 Geollect specialist engineers will join Roke.
“The combined talents from Roke and Geollect will produce a global leader in OSINT and GEOINT(…),” according to Cate Gwilliam, CEO and Co-Founder of Geollect.
Founded in 2017, Geollect provides a subscription-based platform that enables geospatial gathering, presentation, and analysis of datasets. The platform can ingest over 250 sets of open-source data, analysing and drawing insight which is presented on a geolocated basis. In June 2021, Roke made its first acquisition through Cubica, a specialist in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data fusion and autonomy. All Cubica’s employees joined Roke at this time, its products and their capabilities are now used widely on Roke projects across multiple markets.
Roke was founded in 1956 and is owned by technology group Chemring since 2010. The UK-based group employs over 850 engineers and business professionals in Manchester, Woking, Gloucester, and Hampshire.
Image source: chemring.com
