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
Boeing has demonstrated successful integration of its Protected Tactical Enterprise Service (PTES) software elements with an industry partner’s user terminal, proving technical maturity on the U.S. Space Force’s pathfinder program. A contender for Australia’s JP9102 MILSATCOM project, Boeing says its…
The Department of Defence has awarded nine Defence Innovation Hub contracts worth $19 million to develop new technologies that could help protect and sustain Australian Defence Force personnel in the field. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said, “I am…
Melbourne-based SYPAQ Systems has officially opened its new Defence Autonomy Centre of Excellence (DACE). Announced in June last year, the DACE has been established with direct support from the Victorian Government and aims to make Fisherman’s Bend a hub for…
Defence has awarded KPMG a $233 million contract as the preferred systems integration supplier for Tranche 1 of the ICT 2284 OneDefence Data Program, which will ensure Defence can better manage data as a strategic warfighting asset. KPMG will lead…
DroneShield Limited has revealed an enhanced version of its DroneSentry-C2 Command-and-Control software, in partnership with location intelligence firm, Nearmap. Sydney-based Nearmap provides city-scale 3D content, artificial intelligence data sets, geospatial tools, and high-resolution aerial imagery in Australia, New Zealand, and North…
The Australian Government has named Raytheon Australia and Lockheed Martin Australia as initial industry partners in the Department of Defence’s $1 billion Sovereign Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise. Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said three Australian-based companies – The…
The Australian Government has approved the accelerated acquisition of improved weapon capabilities for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) at a total cost of $3.5 billion. Minister for Defence Peter Dutton announced 5 April that Defence will accelerate the acquisition of:…
The Department of Defence has awarded contracts worth $23 million to 10 Australian businesses whose innovative ideas could strengthen the capability of the Australian Defence Force. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the contracts, awarded through the Defence Innovation…
In a speech to the Cooperative Research Australia Innovation Showcase last week at Parliament House in Canberra, Minister for Science & Technology Melissa Price set out the importance of innovation, cooperation and commercialisation for a strong and growing, high technology…
Defence has launched a Small Business Advocacy Team dedicated to helping Australian defence SMEs win a greater share of critical Defence projects. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the establishment of the new team within the Office of Defence…
