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Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne has announced the establishment of the Defence Innovation Partnership between the Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group and South Australian universities.
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“This new partnership will enable Defence to further leverage science and technology expertise from South Australia’s leading academic institutions and industry,” Minister Pyne said.
Last year, the government opened the Centre for Defence Industry Capability, based in South Australia, and launched the Innovation Hub.
These two initiatives are designed to nurture and grow Australia's defence industry, and provide a leg up for small and medium enterprises with innovative ideas to improve Australia's defence capability.
“This new partnership between the DST Group and the South Australian university sector aims to create a centre for future defence related research networks in South Australia. A further example of the Turnbull government's commitment to build our defence industry,” Minister Pyne said.
“It will provide a platform for industry and universities in South Australia to undertake joint cross-disciplinary research, solving Defence’s technology challenges.”
This initiative is consistent with the 2016 White Paper, which called for greater alignment across the defence innovation sector through closer co-operation with industry and academia.
A similar initiative has already been implemented in Victoria, and discussions with other interested states are underway.
Minister Pyne said the benefits of this partnership included better communication of Defence’s science and technology priorities to industry.
“This partnership will help to grow a future talent pool of defence researchers and fund joint projects to enhance industry capability and transition research into innovation,” he said.
“The Turnbull government is committed to collaborative partnerships such as this, which allow academia and industry to proactively promote its capabilities to Defence, creating a win-win for both Defence and industry.”
As the co-ordinator and innovation integrator of Defence’s research and development activities, DST Group would be a key player in the partnership, contributing up to $150,000 per year for research projects, as well as seconding a senior researcher.
