Albanese Government invests in Australian innovation to give Defence a technological edge
18 November 2024
The Albanese Government is backing local innovation in quantum and counter disinformation technologies that are key to giving Defence an edge and which will also be critical to a future made in Australia.
The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator’s (ASCA) Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) program has signed 21 contracts as part of an investment of over $60 million with Australian universities and industry partners.
This investment gives effect to innovation priorities in the National Defence Strategy and Asymmetric Advantage – Delivering More, Together, the Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy.
The EDT program is pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge to advance the development of existing and new capabilities that help deter hostile acts against Australia and in our region.
Long-term partnerships between scientists, military end-users and innovators are positively shaping Australia’s defence innovation ecosystem.
We are leveraging our national strengths, with contract recipients comprising universities and industry partners from across the country.
The recipients include:
- Analog Quantum Circuits in QLD which designs and fabricates superconducting devices for quantum computing.
- Consunet Pty Ltd in South Australia which works on capabilities in electromagnetic warfare and spectrum management.
- Nomad Atomics in Victoria which specialises in the development of high precision quantum sensors.
- Q-CTRL Pty Ltd in NSW which is seeking to solve the hardest problems facing quantum technology, improving hardware performance and accelerating pathways to useful quantum computers and other technologies.
A total of 179 proposals from across the national science and technology ecosystem were received as part of this call-out for EDT proposals. ASCA is seeking innovative proposals that can support decision advantage for its next EDT program.
Source: Defence Press Release