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The establishment of the Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC), headquartered in Adelaide, has been well received by the nations’ academics.
University researchers can now realise the potential of their study, with a gateway to government, funding and expertise to commercialise research and enhance defence capabilities.
University of Newcastle business development manager Ian Dick told Defence Connect that access to business advisers (available via CDIC) is “going to make life so much easier for the university”.
“Realistically, we’re no different to the rest of the industry. We’re not an SME at all, but I feel we’ll get the same benefits as everyone else in the industry,” he said.
“Everyone is going to benefit from the services CDIC offers. Getting our hands on information and the passing on of vital information, even getting involved in CTD programs and grants, CDIC are going to manage that so it’s going to be so much easier.”
Dick was most optimistic about the chance for research projects coming to fruition now that the Defence Innovation Hub and CDIC are accessible.
“I can see that with things like prototyping and start-ups, there will actually be an end game for them,” he said.
“Previously, there was a lot of research being done but no end game – nothing would come of it. I think that’s where the CDIC could really help.”
Dick noted that there would be SMEs within the industry who don’t have a firm grasp of what the CDIC is, and what it can offer – and said they need to get on the front foot to understand the opportunity.
“Within the university we distributed loads of information as soon as we read the plans in the 2016 White Paper. We’ve held forums about what’s coming down through the White Paper and there have been some SMEs come along to those,” he said.
“They’ve gotten the information they need from those forums, but there are plenty out there who still don’t know what benefits the CDIC could bring them.”
