New round of funding announced for domestic defence projects

Credit: Defence Connect, Robert Dougherty

Australian defence projects have received nearly $900,000 in funding during the seventh round of the Defence Innovation Partnership’s Collaborative Research Fund.

Six projects received funding during the latest round – the Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) has now funded 35 projects and awarded approximately $5 million from state government, with additional funding leveraged from Commonwealth, industry, and university contributions.

The funding is expected to support genuine collaboration across government, the university sector, and industry with the CRF acting as a catalyst for defence-relevant research, development, and innovation.

Defence SA’s acting chief executive Reg Carruthers said the calibre of applications is continuing to increase each round.

“The applications received were of an incredibly high quality and from across a variety of themes, which is demonstrative of the depth of research and industry expertise in South Australia,” said Carruthers.

“It is encouraging to see such close collaboration between South Australian researchers with Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) involvement across all projects.

“The projects chosen focus on Defence priorities, so we are investing in research activities that address a specific need aimed at improving capability for our Defence Forces.”

Associate Professor Ling Yin from the University of Adelaide’s School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering said their project aims to strengthen Defence’s sovereign manufacturing capability and assist in the production of reliable 3D-printed metal structures for extreme environments.

“It is critical for Australia to develop and produce high-tech, value-added metal products that deliver value for money and assist in the development of cross-cutting technologies,” said Associate Professor Yin.

“This project will also provide excellent training opportunities for young engineers, scientists, and students, who represent the future of Australia’s professional work force in high-tech industries.

“The CRF process enables collaboration across our project partners – Flinders University, DSTG, and AML3D – with each partner bringing a high level of expertise to the table.”

The full list of projects awarded include $150,000 in CRF funding for sovereign manufacturing reliable defence structures by 3D metal printing and structural health monitoring – led by the University of Adelaide with partners Flinders University, DSTG, and AML3D.

More than$149,830 in CRF funding was allocated for the mathematical modelling of a complex and contested conflict environment: influence of logistics and resource transfer led by Flinders University with partners University of South Australia and DSTG.

CRF funding in $150,000 was allocated to “Warm starts and goal-based heuristics to improve MARL performance in advanced distributed defence”, led by the University of Adelaide with partners University of South Australia, DSTG, and DEWC Services.

Another $150,000 was allocated for the evaluation of state uncertainty for resident space objects, led by Flinders University with partners the University of Adelaide, DSTG, and Lockheed Martin Australia.

Another $150,000 was funded for cyber terrain mapping and analysis of operational technology networks, led by Insight Via Artificial Intelligence with partners the University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, and DSTG.

Another $147,128 in CRF funding was allocated first-in-class pharmaceutical radiation protectant and mitigant, led by the University of Adelaide with partners Flinders University, University of South Australia, DSTG, and Plantworx Organics.

Another $150,000 was allocated for the Defence Innovation Partnership, a collaboration between Defence SA, DSTG, and South Australia’s three public universities – the University of Adelaide, Flinders University, and the University of South Australia –aimed at meeting the needs of Defence.

The Collaborative Research Fund is funded by the South Australian government and Defence Science and Technology Group.

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