Innovation and R&D have always been the essential foundations of a strong, sustainable defence industry. Australia’s 2016 Defence White Paper, Defence Industry Policy Statement (DIPS) and Defence Integrated Investment Program (DIIP) acknowledge the importance of successful Defence R&D and innovation to the nation’s defence industry and thus to Australian defence policy. The 2020 Defence Force Structure Plan reinforced these foundations.
EX2 was set up by Dr Gregor Ferguson, a defence industry and innovation analyst and consultant, to make a useful contribution in Australia’s new and welcoming defence business environment.
EX2 helps innovators in Defence, the research sector and industry, and especially SMEs, by providing news and insight about innovation in Defence and adjacent sectors such as space, aerospace and resources.
Gregor Ferguson writes, teaches, advises and runs a national program designed to encourage and reward innovators in the defence, aerospace and maritime domains in both industry and the research and academic communities.
View his bio here (PDF opens in new window).
Dr Gregor Ferguson, Ph.D, BA (Hons), MRAeS
The Royal Australian Navy has officially taken delivery of the first two of five Ocius BlueBottle Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USV) ordered by the ADF, despite the fact the USV has been in service with the ADF for several months. The…
With the Australian government’s response to the Defence Strategic Review and several AUKUS-related announcements due over the next few weeks, the Australian Government has called for public feedback on proposed fundamental reforms to Defence legislation. Submissions close on 21 April,…
The first AUSMIN/AUKMIN-style meeting of Australian and Indian Foreign and Defence Ministers will be held later this year, it has been announced by the two countries’ Prime Ministers. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made a three-day State Visit to India…
The Sydney-based Defence Innovation Network is inviting the Australian research community to participate in the DIN Sandpit Workshop. This online event will be held on 30 March. The event will feature several problem pitches delivered by Defence and industry aligned with…
The Australian Army is seeking proposals that will demonstrate solutions in three themes Disruption of quantum computers Quantum networking for enhanced sensing and imaging Systems monitoring using quantum sensors Selected teams will be invited to pitch their solutions at the Quantum…
The Defence Innovation Hub, in collaboration with the Australian Army, is seeking innovative Submissions from industry for a Special Notice relating to ‘Counter Robotic and Autonomous Systems for the Land Force’. Successful submissions will be exhibited at Army Innovation Day…
Defence has signed contracts worth $1.746 million with the University of South Australia and Deakin University for two research projects which will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to process noisy and dynamic data into information that will give military decision makers…
Adelaide-based SME Inovor technologies is preparing for a busy 2023 says CEO Dr Matt Tetlow. The company is teamed with Lockheed Martin Australia on Defence’s Military Satellite Communications program, Joint Project 9102, which should be decided this month or next,…
US company Sabrewing used AVALON 2023 to conduct a ‘soft launch’ of its Rhaegal family of Uncrewed Air Vehicles (UAV). More than 190 of its Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) UAVs have been ordered by Arabian Development and Marketing Company…
Innovation Pitchfest judge Geoff Thomas with Best Aerospace Innovation winner, Mr Henry Bilinsky, MicroTau. Image: AMDA Foundation Limited The AVALON 2023 Conference Centre had standing room only for the Innovation Pitchfest on 1 March at which three pitches were awarded…
