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 USAF has issued an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract worth up to AUD$950 million for 27 companies to compete for work on the Pentagon’s Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) program for multi-domain networking. The recipients include two companies…
Australian innovators in the land domain have until 8 August to submit an entry for the prestigious LAND FORCES 2022 Innovation Awards. The Awards will be presented at the three-day LAND FORCES 2022 International Land Defence Exposition at the Brisbane…
Sydney-based Quickstep Holdings Ltd has begun a jointly funded project with the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), in collaboration with DMTC Ltd, to identify, analyse and test high temperature materials as a first step towards the development of future…
DST Group has undergone a significant re-organisation which EX2 understands was supposed to have been unveiled on 1 July. The only sign on DSTG's website so far has been this note: "Our divisions ceased to operate from 1 July 2022.…
From 1 July 2022, the Defence Innovation Hub is seeking submissions for innovative technologies in key priority areas: Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD); Undersea Warfare (USW); and Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO). The Hub will invest up to…
On the last working day of the 2021-22 financial year NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and Leaders and Ministers from 22 member countries launched NATO’s Innovation Fund, the world’s first multi-sovereign venture capital fund. The €1 billion Fund will complement…
Newcastle’s Williamtown Airport is positioning itself to play a key role in delivering and sustaining both Defence combat power and SMEs looking to establish a footprint within the Williamtown Special Activation Precinct. Stage 1 leasing opportunities include a commercialregional logistics.…
Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, is providing free research and development support to businesses working in the cyber security sector. CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow: Cyber Security program, commences 26 July and is available for 20-25 Small and Medium Enterprises (SME).…
Adelaide-based Fleet Space, Australia’s only commercial small satellite manufacturer, has partnered with Sydney 3D printer Konica Minolta to bring satellite and antenna manufacturing back onshore. The Konica Minolta printer will enable Fleet Space to manufacture small satellites at scale for…
Adelaide-based passive surveillance specialist Silentium Defence is designing and testing a range of cutting-edge technologies that can be incorporated into Lockheed Martin Australia’s future Joint Air Battle Management solution for the Royal Australian Air Force’s Project AIR6500 Ph.1 (AIR6500-1). As…
