$21million in Innovation Hub grants

Defence Innovation Hub contracts worth a total of $21million will strengthen Australia’s defence capability by investing in the ideas and expertise of innovative Australian companies and research organisations.

CAPTION: Downer EDI Engineering Power will lead a team developing a counter-IED platform. Photo courtesy Downer.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said 10 new Defence Innovation Hub contracts demonstrated Australia’s capacity to drive the development of advanced technologies for Australian Defence Force personnel.

“This latest tranche of investment in businesses and academia is worth more than $21million,” Minister Price said.

“These contracts will enable the development of promising technologies that could help protect and sustain Australian personnel in the field.”

The contracts include:

• • a $3.7million contract with Queensland company Downer EDI Engineering for technologies to counter improvised explosive devices;
  • a $2.7million contract with New South Wales company Spearpoint Solutions for a digital combat helmet; and,
  • $3.1 million in contracts with Victorian company Defendtex for next generation body armour and a lightweight modular shotgun system.

“We are also investing in advanced power storage and generation technologies, through a $3.3million contract with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and a $1.8million contract with Florestan Technology in New South Wales,” Minister Price said.

The contracts also include $1.9million for Western Australian company Techventure Investments to develop a lightweight high-performance projectile, and $1million for researchers from the University of Western Australia to develop secure communications system components.

“I am pleased to see West (sic) Australian innovators showing strong potential to provide Defence with game-changing capabilities,” Minister Price said.

“These investments demonstrate the importance of Defence’s partnership with the Australian defence industry and innovation sector, and how we can work together to improve capabilities and support available to our ADF.”

Industry and research organisations can submit innovation proposals through the Defence Innovation Portal

 

Contracts announced today:

Organisation	State	Contract	Description of innovation
Downer EDI Engineering Power Pty Ltd	QLD	$3.7 million	To explore next generation integrated counter improvised explosive device technologies to improve Army combatant survivability in complex contested environments.
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology	VIC	$3.3 million	To develop a smaller lightweight deployable power storage technology for operational environments.
SYPAQ Systems Pty Ltd	VIC	$2.9 million	To develop an enhanced imaging capability for diverse applications within a range of military operational environments, using advanced electro-optical sensors across a band of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Spearpoint Solutions & Technology Pty Ltd	NSW	$2.7 million	To develop an integrated digital soldier combat helmet system, to provide the future soldier with a significant cutting edge capability advantage.
Techventure Investments Pty Ltd	WA	$1.9 million	To develop a lighter high-velocity long range projectile for the Australian Army.
Florestan Technology Pty Ltd	NSW	$1.8 million	To develop a multi-fuel, lightweight portable power generation system for operational environments.
Defendtex Research Labs Pty Ltd	VIC	$1.6 million	To develop a lightweight modular shotgun rifle weapon system for improved tactical versatility.
Defendtex Research Labs Pty Ltd	VIC	$1.5 million	To develop a next generation body armour with increased ballistics protection.
The University of Western Australia	WA	$1 million	To develop a small lightweight communications system component that will improve performance and accuracy over existing capabilities.
BIA5 Pty Ltd	QLD	$670,000	To develop an innovative electronic trip flare device for Australian soldiers on the modern battlefield.

 

 

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