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Six cyber security firms are among 12 recipients of Defence grants totalling $3.6 million.
The federal government has awarded 12 grants under the Industry Competitive Evaluation Research Agreement (ICERA) initiative, launched in August 2020.
The ICERA grants aim to provide $36 million in funding over six years via the Defence’s Next Generation Technologies Fund (NGTF), with the first round of grants totalling $3.6 million.
Six of the first-round recipients are expected to leverage the grant to fund innovative cyber security capabilities, with the remaining recipients to invest in enhanced human performance, integrated ISR, quantum technologies and advanced sensors.
The following ICERA grant recipients have been awarded up to $300,000 each.
- NSW-based firm Breakaway Consulting (cyber security)
- ACT-based firm InfoSect (cyber security)
- SA-based firm Insight Via Artificial Intelligence (cyber security)
- NSW-based firm Jaywick Group (cyber security)
- ACT-based firm Mentum Systems (cyber security)
- NSW-based firm Spinlock Security (cyber security)
- NSW-based firm Critus (advanced sensors)
- NSW-based firm Quantitative (enhanced human performance)
- SA-BASED firm Biosensis (enhanced human performance)
- SA-based firm Fivecast (ISR)
- NSW-based firm Safran Electronics & Defence Australasia (ISR)
- SA-based firm Cryoclock (quantum technologies)
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price congratulated the recipients and noted the benefits of the ICERA program.
“I am particularly pleased to announce that two of these initial ICERA partnerships are with businesses new to Defence,” Minister Price said.
“The ICERA program aims to support small-to-medium businesses that are critical to enhancing our tactical and strategic edge as Australia’s strategic context continues to evolve.”
[Related: 6 Australian businesses awarded global competitiveness grants]
Charbel Kadib
News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media
Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.
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