Defence Innovation Partnership awards $900k for six defence research projects

Six projects have received a total of nearly $900,000 in funding for the seventh round of the Adelaide-based Defence Innovation Partnership’s Collaborative Research Fund (CRF).

Defence SA’s Acting Chief Executive Reg Carruthers said the calibre of applications is continuing to increase each round.

“The applications received were of an incredibly high quality, and from across a variety of themes, which is demonstrative of the depth of research and industry expertise in South Australia,” said Carruthers. “It is encouraging to see such close collaboration between South Australian researchers with Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) involvement across all projects.

“The projects chosen focus on Defence priorities, so we are investing in research activities that address a specific need aimed at improving capability for our Defence Forces.”

Associate Professor Ling Yin from the University of Adelaide’s School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering said their project aims to strengthen Defence’s sovereign manufacturing capability and assist in the production of reliable 3D-printed metal structures for extreme environments.

“It is critical for Australia to develop and produce high-tech value-added metal products that deliver value for money and assist in the development of cross-cutting technologies,” said Associate Professor Yin.

“This project will also provide excellent training opportunities for young engineers, scientists and students, who represent the future of Australia’s professional work force in high tech industries.

“The CRF process enables collaboration across our project partners—Flinders University, DSTG and AML3D—with each partner bringing a high level of expertise to the table.”

Including this latest round, the CRF has now funded 35 projects and approximately $5 million from state government, with additional funding leveraged from Commonwealth, industry and university contributions.

The full list of projects awarded is:

• Sovereign manufacturing reliable defence structures by 3D metal printing and structural health monitoring– led by the University of Adelaide with partners Flinders University, DSTG and AML3D.
  CRF Funding: $150,000
• Mathematical modelling of a complex and contested conflict environment: influence of logistics and resource transfer– led by Flinders University with partners University of South Australia and DSTG.
  CRF Funding: $149,830
• Warm Starts and Goal-based Heuristics to Improve MARL Performance in Advanced Distributed Defence– led by the University of Adelaide with partners University of South Australia, DSTG and DEWC Services
  CRF Funding: $150,000
• Evaluation of State Uncertainty for Resident Space Objects– led by Flinders University with partners the University of Adelaide, DSTG and Lockheed Martin Australia.
  CRF Funding: $150,000
• Cyber Terrain Mapping and Analysis of Operational Technology Networks– led by Insight Via Artificial Intelligence with partners the University of Adelaide, University of South Australia and DSTG.
  CRF Funding: $147,128
• First-in-class pharmaceutical radiation protectant and mitigant– led by the University of Adelaide with partners Flinders University, University of South Australia, DSTG and Plantworx Organics Pty Ltd.
  CRF Funding: $150,000

The Defence Innovation Partnership is a collaboration between Defence SA, DSTG and South Australia’s three public universities, the University of Adelaide, Flinders University and the University of South Australia aimed at meeting the needs of Defence. Supporting genuine collaboration across government, the university sector and industry, the CRF is a catalyst for defence-relevant research, development and innovation.