“SADIG is very pleased to have played a key role in the establishment of this new defence network,” he said.

“Working with Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), and the Defence Science Institute (DSI), the NSW Chief Scientist’s Office, and NSW Department of Industry, we have helped bring together industry groups and researchers from the Greater Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra Regions.”

The seven universities in the DIN are the University of Technology Sydney, Macquarie University, University of Sydney, University of Newcastle, University of Wollongong, Western Sydney University and University of NSW.

Williams said industry stood ready to support the work of the DIN, acting as broker to assist the network in identifying problems facing industry, nationally and internationally, and helping develop partnerships with universities to solve them.

He emphasised the significant future role of the DIN to access skills and capabilities across the university network.

“It’s our objective to identify new additional strategic opportunities which can only be tackled on a collaborative basis, to provide feedback to industry members and other stakeholders, including the state and Commonwealth governments,” Williams said.