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 Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) has released its Annual Cyber Threat Report for 2022-23, laying bare Australia’s cyber threat landscape. Reflecting the global strategic context, this year’s report highlights that Australian governments, critical infrastructure, businesses and households continue to be…
The Australian Government has strengthened the country’s ties with European partners by signing the Security Agreement on the Protection of Classified Information with the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, known by its French acronym, OCCAR. Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon…
The Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and the Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, have released the South Australian Defence Industry Workforce and Skills Report and Action Plan, delivering a detailed strategy to grow and sustain…
Australia is strengthening its commitment to safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), joining a landmark Declaration on Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy. In an increasingly complex global environment, it is essential that AI technologies are…
Ten Australian manufacturing businesses will share more than $3.6 million to develop industry capabilities and boost exports under the Defence Global Competitiveness and Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority grant programs. More than 220 Australian businesses have already benefitted from almost $97…
Exail has finalised its first large-scale order of simulated sonar data from Mission Systems Pty Ltd, a pivotal step that launches the Australian research and development-focused SME into the international defence supply chain. The order focuses on the large-scale acquisition…
Melbourne-based Swinburne University of Technology’s Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub (AIR Hub) has successfully completed the first flight of an Australian-developed hydrogen fuel cell electric-powered VTOL drone. The flight test was achieved using AIR Hub’s innovative Small Hydrogen Aircraft Development &…
The iLAuNCH Trailblazer, located at the University of South Queensland, is helping qualify the Space Machines Company’s Optimus Platform for flight. The Optimus Platform is designed to deliver transport and service capabilities in orbit and is the largest satellite of…
More than 150 Australian and US military cyber experts have joined forces to battle simulated network attacks in Canberra In the first classified-level cyber exercise of its kind,. The ADF-hosted Exercise Cyber Sentinels involved participants battling, strategising and defending cyber…
The Advanced Air Mobility Cooperative Research Centre (AAM CRC) bid has been launched formally at the AAUS Summit 2023 in Melbourne. The bid aims to secure a CRC Grant in Round 25, for which Stage 1 opens in December of…
