DIP awards $600K in grants for innovative defence R&D

The Adelaide-based Defence Innovation Partnership (DIP has awarded $600,000-worth of R&D grants to four programs under its Collaborative Research Fund (CRF).

Among them is a dual-use technology research project that will utilise satellite technology to aid in disaster response. It aims to introduce a new technique for satellite-based connectivity for emergency services and Defence personnel in hazardous environments when ground-based communications network infrastructure is unavailable.

Small, low power beacons will improve the collection of live data from incidents and allow for timely distribution of information across response teams.

Adelaide space start-up Safety from Space will lead the project with partners Flinders University, University of South Australia, SmartSat CRC and the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG).

“Over the last five years, the CRF has unlocked more than $12 million of collaborative defence and space R&D activity across 29 projects in South Australia,” said the South Australian Minister for Defence and Space Industries Susan Close.

The full list of funded projects is:

• $150,000 for dual use satellite messaging beacon system for Defence and Emergency Services Personnel, led by Safety from Space with Partners Flinders University, University of South Australia, SmartSat CRC and DSTG
• $150,000 for sensing semiconductor devices with terahertz waves, led by the University of Adelaide with partners Flinders University, Keysight Technologies Australia Pty Ltd and DSTG
• $148,658 for rapid environmental monitoring using autonomous systems, led by the University of Adelaide with partners Flinders University Acacia Systems Pty Ltd, and DSTG
• $149,404 for validation of a test and evaluation model for planning and architecture optimisation, led by University of South Australia with partners The University of Adelaide, Nova Systems and DSTG

“There was … a strong representation from the Defence Science and Technology Group which demonstrates the strong alignment of this research with Defence priorities,” said Richard Price, Chief Executive of Defence SA.

As well as supporting successful applicants, the Defence Innovation Partnership will engage with unsuccessful applicants to assist them in progressing their projects, potentially through collaborators or alternative avenues for funding.

The Defence Innovation Partnership (DIP) is a collaborative initiative between Defence SA, the Department of Defence through the Next Generation Technologies Fund, and South Australia’s three universities – the University of Adelaide, Flinders University and the University of South Australia.