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 government has cancelled the $1.4 billion National Space Mission for Earth Observation (NSMEO) which was announced by the former Minister for Science and Technology in March 2022. The cancellation has been blamed on the need to achieve budget…
The federal Department of Industry Science and Resources is seeking comment from industry on its new $392 million Industry Growth Program (IGP). The closing date for comments and consultation is 30 July. The IGP, which replaces the Department’s previous Entrepreneur’s…
The Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) has awarded 10 Australian space projects grant funding worth nearly $40 million in total. The funding falls under the Demonstrator Program of the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars initiative and will…
Western Australia will host a key US and Australian exercise that will develop how the ADF employs land-based precision long-range rocket artillery and maritime strike missiles. Commencing in late July, Exercise HIGHBALL will be a combined initiative of Australia’s Headquarters…
Elbit Systems of America has been awarded a prime contract by the US Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific) to develop and demonstrate an autonomous maritime target tracking capability as part of the US Navy’s Information Warfare Research Project…
US defence software company Anduril Industries has completed the acquisition of Indiana-based Adranos, a manufacturer of innovative solid rocket motors. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed but through this acquisition Costa mesa-based Anduril will become a merchant…
Professor Doug Hilton AO has been appointed Chief Execitive of CSIRO succeeding Dr Larry Marshall who steps down at the end of June after three terms in the job. Professor Hilton, who starts the job in September, is Director of…
The US Department of Defense (DoD) and the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) have launched the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) to expand the strategic technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation between the two countries’ governments, businesses, and academic institutions.…
The Australian Government has appointed current Air Commander Australia Air Vice-Marshal Darren Goldie AM CSC the inaugural National Cyber Security Coordinator. Appointed only last year to his current post, he will commence his term as the National Cyber Security Coordinator…
Canberra-based Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has opened its new R150 Remote Weapon System (RWS) production line at its manufacturing facility in Canberra. This is the company’s response to growing international demand for lightweight systems that can be fitted to a…
