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Relocated from Sweden to Australia, the Centre of Excellence will host bio-medical engineering, infrastructure and product research while supporting the company’s delivery of the JP 2060 Phase 3 – Deployable Health Capability project.
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Saab Australia has today (25 March 2022) completed the relocation of the company’s Deployable Health Capability Centre of Excellence from Sweden to Australia, with the centre set to host an array of research from bio-medical engineering to infrastructure and product development.
The centre will also host Saab Australia’s integrated logistic support and training teams, while supporting the delivery of the JP 2060 Phase 3 – Deployable Health Capability project.
“Saab globally has been delivering expert deployable health capability for over 30 years. With the capability technology transfer from Europe to Australia, the CoE will bring together the best of industry partnerships to ensure export of world leading capability out of Australia, to the world,” Andy Keough, managing director of Saab Australia, said.
“Saab’s increased local development of deployable health solutions, in addition to the establishment of the CoE is a testament to our growing capability. This coupled with our local supplier engagement to foster innovation and product development, will further increase sovereign industry capability and supply chain resilience.”
It is hoped that the completion of the Centre of Excellence will support the development of Australian designed and developed deployable health solutions for military and humanitarian missions.
In attendance at the opening of the centre was the Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price, welcoming the centre as a nexus between “industry and academia”.
“This centre’s highly skilled team of Saab experts, combined with industry and academia partnerships, will allow for the development and export of exceptional deployable health solutions to military and humanitarian operations globally,” Minister Price said.
“It will help strengthen deployable health capability through continual improvements to technology and equipment, and access to emerging technologies.
“It will also help create supply chain resilience and aid the development of sovereign industry capability through engagement with local suppliers and partners.”
To coincide with the event, Saab Australia signed contracts with Australian companies Aspen Medical and Global Defence Solutions to support the delivery of the deployable health system.
Under the partnerships, it is agreed that Aspen Medical would provide “clinical and operational medical training” to members of the Australian Defence Force, while Global Defence Solutions would support the development of deployable infrastructure, including hard and soft shelters.
The contracts are valued at $6.7 million and $38.4 million, respectively.
“These are important milestones for Saab, Aspen Medical and Global Defence Solutions, both for the successful delivery of the Deployable Health Capability and for the cooperation of Australian defence industry,” Minister Price continued.
“Saab is a strategic and long-term partner for the ADF and the Centre of Excellence presents an opportunity for further engagement and innovation with the ADF and Australian industry.”
Mick Humphries, general manager – Asia Pacific at Aspen Medical, explained that the veteran owned company was excited to partner with Saab Australia’s JP 2060 Phase 3 team.
“Aspen Medical will use its vast experience in delivery of healthcare globally to provide training across a wide range of improved and new health technologies. We look forward to the challenge of helping prepare the Australian Defence Force for its future missions,” Humphries said.
Laurie Koster, chairman of GDS, welcomed the opportunity to support Australia’s warfighters.
“Off the back of our JP 2060 contract with Saab, GDS has doubled its local workforce and we look forward to continuing to grow as we further develop our relationship,” Koster said.
According to a release from the company, the contracts were initially struck in 2021.
[Related: Saab secures Australian Defence order for deployable health infrastructure]
