The Australian government is investing almost $40 million in emerging technologies and artificial intelligence to ensure the Australian Defence Force (ADF) can make decisions with speed and accuracy in an increasingly complex information environment. The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator’s (ASCA) Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) program has signed 14 new contracts to strengthen Decision Advantage capability across Defence domains including air, land, space, maritime and cyber.
Decision Advantage is the ability to make better decisions, faster than any potential adversary, and is one of six key capability effects outlined in the 2024 National Defence Strategy. Each contract backs in cutting-edge, innovative proposals in areas including machine reasoning, automated data integration and artificial intelligence, which help drive Decision Advantage capability across the ADF.
A total of 123 submissions were received through this call for EDT proposals, reflecting the breadth and depth of Australia’s sovereign capabilities in science and technology. ASCA’s EDT program shapes and future-proofs the defence innovation ecosystem to provide the Australian Defence Force with asymmetric advantage.
| Organisation | State | Contract value (incl GST) |
| Australian National University | ACT | $1,023,209.85 |
| Australian Systems Research Pty Ltd | Vic | $1,836,389.50 |
| Cortisonic Pty Ltd | Qld | $3,232,494.10 |
| Curtin University | WA | $3,165,877.87 |
| Evolving Machine Intelligence Pty Ltd | Qld | $3,241,106.00 |
| Macquarie University & Western Sydney University | NSW | $3,286,010.20 |
| Space Machines Company Pty Ltd | NSW | $2,930,854.30 |
| Swordfish Computing Pty Ltd | SA | $3,092,317.48 |
| TKMS Sonartech Atlas Pty Ltd | NSW | $2,114,924.90 |
| University of New South Wales | NSW | $3,220,633.56 |
| University of Queensland | Qld | $3,059,090.10 |
| University of Technology Sydney | NSW | $3,257,745.15 |
| Visionary Machines Pty Ltd | NSW | $2,934,406.20 |
| Western Sydney University | NSW | $3,164,305.10 |
Chief Defence Scientist Prof. Tanya Monro said: “As technology evolves, Defence is continually investing in the cutting-edge capabilities the Australian Defence Force needs to keep Australians safe. These investments build long-term partnerships with industry, research institutions and our world-leading universities so we can develop the technology we need faster. While the information environment in our region and around the world continues to change, we’re backing Australian researchers, innovators and engineers to deliver home-grown solutions to emerging challenges.”
Head of ASCA Major General Hugh Meggitt said: “The investment of $40 million in the EDT Decision Advantage Program is an important activity to develop future capability and inform potential future ASCA Missions to provide an asymmetric advantage to the ADF.”
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