QDSA awards 5 defence research grants

The Brisbane-based Queensland Defence Science Alliance (QDSA) has awarded five 2024 QDSA Collaborative Research Grants (CRG) to teams from Queensland and the Northern Territory. The NT’s Charles Darwin University joined QDSA in July 2024.

The five winning projects, between QDSA member universities and Defence industry partners, were awarded a total of $948,000 by QDSA for up to 18 months to enable transition from proof-of-concept to development of a prototype. An additional co-funded investment of $2,670,689 associated with these projects brings the total investment in this round of funding to more than $3.6 million.

Project submissions had to fall into one of five themes: Undersea Warfare, Cyber, Amphibious capable combined‑arms land system, Theatre logistics, and Theatre command and control. These QDSA CRG Research Priorities and Topics were drawn from the 2024 National Defence Strategy, 2024 Integrated Investment Program, and wide consultation with Defence stakeholders.

“These new initiatives are an important step towards transforming cutting-edge research into real-world technologies that will strengthen local industries and bolster our Defence capabilities for years to come,” said QDSA director Stuart Blackwell.

“The intent is to provide an injection of funds to accelerate emerging research towards a level of maturity where a demonstration can be provided for further development into a capability by a larger party (such as Federal funding scheme or Defence prime). Therefore, the project must have a clear plan for transition to capability beyond the 18-month project,” Mr Blackwell said.

The winning projects are:

• Transitioning to Quantum-Safe: Security Testing of Post-Quantum Cryptography in Security-Critical Applications. University of Queensland in partnership with Griffith University, University of Sunshine Coast and Semicon Pty Ltd.
• Integrating Long Range Cargo UAVs into the Battlespace Operating Systems: This project will develop, test and trial the delivery of medical items over long-ranges using Australian-made heavy-fuel Uncrewed Aerial vehicles (UAVs). Charles Darwin University in partnership with Griffith University and SAI Dynamics Pty Ltd.
• Autonomous Littoral AI Marine Threat Detection System: This innovative capability integrates an uncrewed ground vehicle, remote electromagnetic sensors, and uncrewed aerial system into a self-contained mobile unit optimised for littoral detection of sub-surface objects, bathymetric changes and activity. Griffith University with Charles Darwin University and EPE Pty Ltd.
• 3D printing ceramics for temperature resistant and load bearing aerostructures:  The overall objective of this project is to 3D print and test ceramic structures for thermal management in emerging hypersonic applications. James Cook University with University of Queensland and Lockheed Martin Australia.
• Rapid medical supply delivery:  This project seeks to answer the challenge of 72 seconds from launch to patient, 5km away. University of Queensland with Outer Loop Engineering and SAAB Australia.

To be eligible, projects had to be led by a QDSA member university (Griffith University, James Cook University, University of Queensland, Charles Darwin University), and it was desirable that eligible applications will also have co-investment from a Defence industry partner or QDSA member university.