The new initiatives are tackling some of the critical challenges facing the Australian Defence Force and are set to transform how Australia leverages technology and expertise to protect national security and maintain a strategic edge. The Activator Fund is designed to enable large-scale research and development and accelerate the transition of technology into operational Defence capabilities, in line with the nation’s Defence priorities and the 2024 National Defence Strategy.
Round 3 focuses on ‘Scalable Distributed Acting Sensing and Sensemaking Systems’, with $1.6 million awarded to Fleet Space Technologies and partners for the SENTRI project (Sensor-based Environmental sense-making Network for Threat Response and Information). The SENTRI project is set to transform how Defence gathers and uses information to respond to threats. This cutting-edge initiative will combine advanced sensor technology with satellite networks to deliver fast and reliable data in a wide range of environments.
The technology will have a number of practical uses, such as real-time threat detection, disaster response and recovery and border protection. SENTRI could also be applied across the agriculture and mining sectors. Under Round 2, two projects were each awarded $400,000 under the theme of ‘Understanding and Countering Influence’, to develop crucial capabilities for a world where activities in the information and digital domains have powerful implications for geopolitics and societies.
The full list of projects awarded:
- Mapping Pacific Networks ($400,000)
Lead organisation: University of Adelaide
Partners: Consunet and DSTG
Objective: This project focuses on developing Defence engagement programs in the Pacific Islands region by mapping networks and influence in the region. - Understanding and countering online influence ($400,000)
Lead organisation: University of Adelaide
Partners: Flinders University and Fivecast
Objective: This project will develop a model and prototype tool to help Defence end-users understand how online communities and informal networks evolve over time. - Sensor-based Environmental sense-making Network for Threat Response and Information (SENTRI) ($1.6 million)
Lead organisation: Fleet Space Technologies
Partners: SmartSat CRC, Safety from Space, University of South Australia, Insight via Artificial Intelligence, Swordfish Computing, and DSTG
Objective: Develop and demonstrate SENTRI, a powerful and adaptable system to help Defence respond effectively to changing threats and environments.
Both rounds were co-designed by the Defence Innovation Partnership and Defence Science and Technology Group to address key Defence challenges, including regional influence, contested environments, and agile command and control. The Defence Innovation Partnership is a collaborative initiative of Defence SA, Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) and South Australia’s three public universities, the University of Adelaide, Flinders University and the University of South Australia.
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