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Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price has called on local firms to apply for funding to support the delivery of geospatial intelligence products for Defence and government.
The proposal submission period for the second iteration of the AGO Analytics Labs program has officially opened.
The program — led by the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO) in partnership with Victorian not-for-profit FrontierSI — aims to support the development of geospatial intelligence products.
Specifically, the program aims to improve AGO’s understanding of modern artificial intelligence and data analytics methods for mapping and imagery.
Local industry has been invited to apply for funding to support the program, which has been expanded to include at least six potential subcontracts valued up to $150,000 each.
The program will be split over two challenge rounds, with the first round aimed at addressing an initial three unclassified and emergent capability challenges, via small-scale research projects and concept demonstrators.
FrontierSI is expected to award six-month subcontracts to successful applicants in January 2021, which will involve participants working with AGO subject matter experts to demonstrate how modern technologies can potentially be used in the provision of geospatial intelligence products.
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price urged local industry to participate, and lauded the benefits of the initiative.
“This is about establishing new frameworks for engagement, strengthening partnerships and raising the awareness of industry and academia to the challenges and capability requirements of our geospatial community,” Minister Price said.
She added, “I am pleased to invite innovative Australian and New Zealand companies to submit project proposals that explore novel solutions to unclassified, but pertinent, challenges.
“AGO’s partnership with industry experts, such as FrontierSI, reinforces the Morrison government’s commitment to supporting Australia’s world-leading and critical innovation sector.”
Submissions for round one are due by 11 December 2020.
[Related: Defence awards contract to Perth SME]
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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