In November 2023, ASCA released its first opportunity statements, approved by the Chief Defence Scientist and aligned to the Defence innovation, science and technology (IS&T) priorities.
An Approach to Market (ATM) was released on AusTender and called for the submission of white papers by industry and academia which identify external capability and propose approaches for addressing the IS&T priority areas.
The priority areas for Explore were Information Warfare (synthetic media and disinformation) and Quantum Technologies (all areas).
- Synthetic media/disinformation: Detecting and countering the effects of AI-powered technologies that blur the line of what’s real through convincing and mass-scale fake video, imagery, audio and text.
- Quantum Technologies: Quantum enabled technologies in precision sensing, enhanced computational capability and secure communications which have the potential to provide capability advantage for Defence.
The ATM closed in February 2024 and received 179 white paper responses. Successful respondents were shortlisted from their white paper responses and invited to co-design work packages with Defence.
After an extensive tender evaluation process, 21 contracts with Australian universities and industry partners have been signed to undertake important long-term research that will benefit future Defence capability. These contracts are valued up to $3.3 million (GST Inclusive) over 3 years duration.
ASCA is leveraging national strengths with contract recipients comprising of 10 universities and 10 industry partners from across Australia.
Academia and Industry Partners
| Organisation | State | Contract value (inc. GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Analog Quantum Circuits | QLD | $3,299,967 |
| Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisations (CSIRO) | VIC | $1,530,969 |
| Consunet Pty Ltd | SA | $3,146,000 |
| DeteQt Pty Ltd | NSW | $3,287,143 |
| Diamond Defence | VIC | $3,215,991 |
| Infleqtion (Cold Quanta) | VIC | $3,300,000 |
| Lockheed Martin Australia – Advanced Systems Technology | VIC | $3,288,695 |
| Monash University | VIC | $3,297,408 |
| Monash University | VIC | $3,170,864 |
| Nomad Atomics | VIC | $2,458,718 |
| Q-CTRL Pty Ltd | NSW | $3,275,371 |
| QuantX Labs | SA | $3,264,800 |
| QuantX Labs | SA | $3,146,007 |
| University of Adelaide | SA | $1,800,500 |
| University of Adelaide | SA | $3,280,688 |
| University of New South Wales | NSW | $1,303,172 |
| University of New South Wales | NSW | $2,981,943 |
| University of South Australia | SA | $3,167,452 |
| University of Technology Sydney | NSW | $3,260,760 |
| University of Technology Sydney | NSW | $2,683,227 |
| University of Western Australia | WA |
$2,071,070
|
Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) is designed to test basic ideas and concepts, as well as investing in deeper long term partnerships for nurturing critical Research and Development capability shaped by Defence’s future requirements.
Future EDT program opportunities will be available on the Opportunities page.