The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) Pitch Days provide industry partners and academic researchers a direct avenue to present their latest ideas and emerging technologies to Defence.

ASCA’s inaugural Pitch Day 2024 coincided with the Australia Defence Science, Technology and Research (ADSTAR) Summit 2024 providing Defence stakeholders with early visibility of innovative concepts and potential future capabilities, while offering proposers valuable feedback and opportunities for collaboration.

Following the initial Pitch Day, 8 respondents were invited to respond to a follow-on Request for Proposal and elaborate on their innovative technologies. Upon further evaluation, ASCA has entered into contracts with 3 Australian organisations, injecting a combined $2.1 million into advanced research and technology.

The successful organisations, Blue Ocean Marine Tech Systems, Cytophenix and the Adelaide University, were selected for their potential to deliver disruptive solutions capable of providing Defence with an asymmetric edge in three critical domains: undersea communication, improved medical treatment of infections and undersea acoustic signal detection.

Advancing undersea autonomy and connectivity

Western Australian based Blue Ocean Marine Tech Systems will lead a project creating a network of uncrewed undersea vehicles designed to support enhanced communications and command control in complex maritime environments. The project aims to demonstrate how coordinated, autonomous undersea platforms can extend communication reach, improve resilience, and provide additional Defence capabilities in contested maritime environments.

Accelerating infection threat assessment

Cytophenix will lead the development of an advanced medical diagnostic device designed to enable faster threat‑assessment, triage and treatment of infections. The device aims to provide near‑real‑time identification of infection, severity, enabling faster treatment, and improve medical outcomes in time‑critical operational settings.

Enhancing undersea acoustic sensing

The Adelaide University will advance optical fibre cable technology enabling improved detection and monitoring of undersea acoustic signals. This project aims to employ optical fibre systems to enhance Defence’s ability to sense, track, and understand surface and sub-surface activity, a vital capability for maritime awareness.

Pitch Days continue ASCA’s mission to accelerate the development and transition of asymmetric capabilities to the Australian Defence Force through innovation in order to meet Defence priority needs.