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On Wednesday, Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price announced the release of the 2018-19 Defence Industry and Innovation Programs Annual Report. The paper drills down into the progress of the government’s three key innovation programs, covering some $120 million earmarked for research contracts.
The 2016 Defence Industry Policy Statement laid out three central investment initiatives:
- Centre for Defence Industry Capability;
- Next Generation Technologies Fund; and
- Defence Innovation Hub.
Over the life cycle of these programs, they are expected to represent a combined $1.6 billion investment in Defence capability through growth in Australian defence industry and innovation.
These initiatives help facilitate hundreds of individual research programs, including the Australian-United States Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (AUSMURI) and the Emerging and Disruptive Technology Assessment Symposium (EDTAS).
The 2018-19 report provides details of the progress and achievements of these key defence industry and innovation programs.
Speaking to a press conference in Canberra, Minister Price said that over $120 million in research and innovation contracts were awarded to industry, universities and publicly funded research agencies over the course of the year.
Australian businesses also received over $15 million in Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority (SICP) funding and $2.3 million in Capability Improvement grants.
“Three years on, the government’s $1.6 billion investment in these programs is enhancing Defence capability by unlocking the creative potential of Australia’s industry and innovation sector,” said Minister Price.
“Importantly, our investments through the Defence Innovation Hub have created more than 200 Australian jobs since the program’s launch in 2016.
“I am encouraged to see how Australian businesses, particularly small businesses, are thriving, innovating and delivering state of the art technologies.”
The paper details not just funds awarded, but also proposals – stating that over 1,900 bids were received for Defence innovation programs.
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