She added that any sale to a "strategic investor" would be an interim measure. A spokeswoman for Carlyle said there was a "very long way to go". The MoD repeated recent statements in parliament that it would prefer an IPO of QinetiQ as soon as its "potential is suitably developed", but added that it would keep open the possibility of a strategic partner for the business as an intermediate measure. Based in Farnborough, QinetiQ employs 8,000 people in the UK. Its research is behind inventions including LCDs, carbon fibre and microwave radar.