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Next-gen tech fund seeks input to protect soldiers against CBRN

Next-gen tech fund seeks input to protect soldiers against CBRN

Defence Science and Technology and the Next Generation Technologies Fund have called for partners to support the development of CBRN medical countermeasures for Australian service personnel.

Defence Science and Technology and the Next Generation Technologies Fund have called for partners to support the development of CBRN medical countermeasures for Australian service personnel.

Defence Science and Technology (DST), in partnership with the DMTC and the Next Generation Technologies Fund (NGTF), are seeking proposals from industry and research partners to participate in the fourth round of the national Medical Countermeasures (MCM) program. 

The national MCM activity led by DMTC is focused on vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for the protection of military and civilian personnel against chemical biological and radiological (CBR) threats, emerging infectious diseases and pandemics.

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This call for collaborative project proposals focuses on three priority themes:

  1. Point of care diagnostics;
  2. Antimicrobial resistance; and 
  3. Security sensitive biological agents.

Additionally, proposals are welcomed for therapeutics against chemical threats, regional tropical diseases such as malaria and dengue; and alpha viruses. 

The NGTF, managed by DST, is a government initiative introduced with the Defence Industry Policy Statement in 2016. Together with the Defence Innovation Hub and the Centre for Defence Industry Capability, these three form the integrated Defence innovation system.

With an investment of $730 million over the decade to June 2026, the NGTF is a forward-looking program focusing on research and development in emerging and future technologies for the 'future Defence Force after next'.

The NGTF is focused on the following nine priority areas as determined by the Defence White Paper 2016:

  • Integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance;
  • Space capabilities;
  • Enhanced human performance;
  • Medical countermeasure products;
  • Multi-disciplinary material sciences;
  • Quantum technologies;
  • Trusted autonomous systems;
  • Cyber; and
  • Advanced sensors, hypersonics and directed energy capabilities.

Proposed projects are expected to have at least one industry partner and one research/academic partner. The DMTC MCM program is about translation of technology and therefore all proposed projects must be at or above the non-clinical/pre-clinical phase of development for vaccines and therapeutics; and prototype development for diagnostics.

Questions about this EOI process or requests for briefings should be directed to Dr Felicia Pradera at DMTC via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Responses to generic questions will be made available on the DMTC MCM website. Face-to-face briefings may also be arranged if there is sufficient interest.

QuadCharts are required to be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by no later than 4pm AEST on 6 May 2019. Project proposals that are down-selected will proceed to a more detailed White Paper Proposal stage. Proposers will be notified by 20 May 2019.

Stephen Kuper

Stephen Kuper

Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.