The Australian Government is investing almost $40 million in emerging applied sciences and synthetic intelligence to strengthen the Australian Defence Force’s means to make quicker, extra correct selections throughout more and more complicated operational environments.
The funding is being delivered by way of the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator’s Emerging and Disruptive Technologies program, which has signed 14 new contracts centered on constructing what Defence describes as “Decision Advantage” throughout air, land, maritime, area and cyber domains.
Decision Advantage – the capability to make higher selections quicker than any potential adversary – is considered one of six key functionality results outlined within the 2024 National Defence Strategy.
The newest spherical of contracts helps cutting-edge proposals in areas together with machine reasoning, automated information integration and synthetic intelligence, all aimed toward accelerating Defence decision-making.
In complete, 123 submissions have been obtained by way of the decision for proposals, highlighting what Defence says is the rising breadth and depth of Australia’s sovereign science and know-how functionality.
Successful organisations embrace universities, analysis establishments and personal know-how companies throughout a number of states and territories, with particular person contracts starting from simply over $1 million to greater than $3.2 million.
Chief Defence Scientist Prof. Tanya Monro AC mentioned continued funding in superior applied sciences was important because the strategic atmosphere advanced.
“As technology evolves, Defence is continually investing in the cutting-edge capabilities the Australian Defence Force needs to keep Australians safe,” she mentioned.
“These investments build long-term partnerships with industry, research institutions and our world-leading universities so we can develop the technology we need faster.”
She added that backing Australian experience was important in responding to emerging challenges. “While the information environment in our region and around the world continues to change, we’re backing Australian researchers, innovators and engineers to deliver home-grown solutions to emerging challenges,” Prof. Monro mentioned.
Head of ASCA Major General Hugh Meggitt mentioned the funding would additionally assist form future Defence functionality improvement.
“The investment of $40 million in the EDT Decision Advantage Program is an important activity to develop future capability and inform potential future ASCA Missions to provide an asymmetric advantage to the ADF,” he mentioned.
Defence mentioned the EDT program performs a key position in future-proofing the nationwide defence innovation ecosystem, making certain the ADF can quickly entry and combine superior applied sciences as threats evolve.