The Australian Government has announced that its Defence Innovation Hub is allocating grants of $7.27m (A$10m) to support the development of new artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

The investment would expand the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) military capability and create skilled jobs in the defence industry.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

It also supports the government’s new ‘Blueprint for Critical Technologies and Action Plan’, aimed at increasing economic opportunities of critical technologies and national security risk.

The technology blueprint was unveiled by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on 17 November.

AI has been listed as one of the nine critical technologies of national interest by the government.

Australia Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price has announced ten new Defence Innovation Hub contracts.

The contracts are funded under the two-year, $23.2m (A$32m) Covid-19 economic stimulus package.

Price said: “These contracts will help develop exciting and new AI technologies.

“This will be achieved through the use of defence’s intelligence mission data to improve situational awareness, and intelligent virtual reality to enhance simulation, modelling and training for our ADF personnel.

“Overall, these technologies have the potential to improve how our military train and operate.

“Attracting businesses from the AI sector to partner with defence is a positive step towards achieving this.”

South Australian-based firm Lumination is one among the ten awardees. It has been awarded a $1.38m (A$1.9m) contract to develop a visualisation platform using virtual reality (VR) and training simulation technology.

New South Wales company Droneshield received a A$945,000 contract to develop an agile software system that enables ADF personnel to focus on categorising unknown radio signals.

Furthermore, Victorian firm Real Response won a A$669,000 contract to develop a ‘highly realistic’ medical training simulator using AI.

Price added: “These contracts will boost Australian businesses and build a strong sovereign capability that can develop and integrate world-leading AI technology into Australia’s Defence Force.”