Login
iscover
The Victorian Defence Science Institute has partnered with the Defence Science and Technology Group to foster new early warning research via the “DSI-Hazardous Agent Challenge (HAC)”, unveiling the list of successful recipients.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
The DSI expects that the funding will not only allow new sensors to be developed, but also foster the creation of multidisciplinary teams to tackle potential future threats in the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear fields.
The award is designed to bring together experts from a multitude of disciplines, from industry, academia and end-user communities to explore sensor solutions for CBRN research.
According to a release from DSI, CBRN hazards have been one of the greatest threats to the defence force to date, with sensors enabling early warning to ensure that personnel do not suffer sickness or injury.
As part of the challenge, the DSI partnered with the Australian Defence Science and Universities Network (ADSUN), receiving submissions from 35 multi-disciplinary teams across the country. The teams will be reviewed by an expert panel of judges, including representatives from the US Defence Threat Reduction Agency.
While the initial award was $1 million, the DSI confirmed that the high level of applications prompted the institute to provide an additional $340,000 to support four successful projects.
The research proposed by the successful applicants span physical, life, data and engineering research for CBRN sensors and are expected to be assessed by Defence over the coming 18 months.
According to a release from the DSI, the four successful projects under the DSI-HAC are:
- University of Melbourne and Flame Security International: Gram-scale infra-red spectrometer concept for multi-analyte airborne chemical threat detection;
- Monash University, University of Melbourne: Wireless platform for stand-off detection of chemical hazards;
- University of Melbourne, Monash University, Ideation Product Solutions: Sensing platform for defence-relevant airborne chemical threats; and
- Monash University, CSIRO: Porous photonic micro cavities – enhanced in-field toxic chemical sensor.
At the outset of the award, Defence outlined that the research was critical to supporting Australia's national security.
“Innovative advances in technology are crucial to boosting Defence’s contribution to national security in response to potential threats. This initiative highlights the value of collaborating with Australia’s industrial and academic sectors to support Defence and strengthen our sovereign knowledge base,” Dr David Kershaw, chief of the Science Engagement and Impact Division, Defence Science and Technology Group at the Department of Defence, said.
[Related: New challenge to support innovation against CBRN threats]
