The multi-agency centre is expected to enable the national intelligence community to harness opportunities offered by emerging technologies. 

Specifically, the centre aims to foster collaboration with non-government R&D partners, helping to fund, shape and deploy advanced science, research and technology to build the nation’s resilience to evolving threats.

This is expected to include investment in innovative R&D projects via a range of funding opportunities for researchers and academia, including scholarships and grants.

The newly launched multi-agency centre will also be responsible for informing government stakeholders on cyber and critical technology matters.

The establishment of the Cyber and Critical Technology Intelligence Centre is among a number of initiatives announced in response to the 2017 Independent Intelligence Review.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison — who announced the launch during an address at The Alliance Dinner in Canberra on the evening of Monday, 28 March — said the centre would also help further facilitate co-operation with international allies, particularly the US.

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“With challenging and changing geopolitical realities — where technological advantage for our intelligence agencies is more important than ever — Australia is, as always, stepping up to do more,” he said.

“Beyond defence and intelligence, today Australia and the United States work together on a wide and expanding canvas — cyber security, space, supply chain resilience, critical minerals, quantum computing, low emissions technologies and so much more.”

The announcement follows the Australian Signals Directorate’s (ASD) opening of a new cyber and foreign intelligence facility in Majura Park, Canberra, built to foster security partnerships across the intelligence community, law enforcement, Australian industry and international partners.

The new centre is expected to house agents and personnel from the Australian Defence Force, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Home Affairs and representatives from industry.

The Majura Park facility is also tipped to create new employment opportunities for intelligence analysts, cyber operators, technology researchers, and corporate enablers.

Earlier in the month, the Commonwealth government also officially opened the Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3) – a new Australian Federal Police-led centre designed to house collaboration between law enforcement and intelligence services representatives focused on combating the growing threat of malicious cyber activity.  

The cyber crime fighting hub – to be based in the AFP’s NSW headquarters – has received $89 million in funding via the Commonwealth government’s $1.67 billion Cyber Security Strategy.

The new centre will be supported by a “National Plan to Combat Cybercrime”, endorsed by Commonwealth, state and territory police ministers.

The plan aims to foster industry growth online, bolster confidence in the digital economy and ensure safe online spaces for children, while also boosting crime detection and law enforcement capabilities.

[Related: ASD launches new cyber, foreign intelligence centre .]

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.