 The history of Cobham Technical Services dates back to 1920 with the incorporation of “The British Electrical and Allied Industries Research Association”, which became generally known as “The Electrical Research Association”, or “ERA”.Initially, ERA’s funding came jointly from government, through the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, from industry, and from the subscriptions of member companies.During the 1939-1945 war, direct assistance to the war effort was given by ERA, having been recognised by the Ministry of Labour in 1941 as an 'essential undertaking'.