Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price has announced 10 new Defence Innovation Hub contracts.
“This latest tranche of investment in businesses and academia is worth more than $21 million,” Minister Price said.
“These contracts will enable the development of promising technologies that could help protect and sustain Australian personnel in the field.”
The contracts include a $3.7 million contract with Queensland company Downer EDI Engineering for technologies to counter improvised explosive devices; a $2.7 million contract with New South Wales company Spearpoint Solutions for a digital combat helmet; and $3.1 million in contracts with Victorian company Defendtex for next generation body armour and a lightweight modular shotgun system.
“We are also investing in advanced power storage and generation technologies, through a $3.3 million contract with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and a $1.8 million contract with Florestan Technology in New South Wales,” Minister Price said.
The contracts also include $1.9 million for West Australian company Techventure Investments to develop a lightweight high-performance projectile, and $1 million for researchers from the University of WA to develop secure communications system components.
“I am pleased to see West Australian innovators showing strong potential to provide Defence with game-changing capabilities,” Minister Price said.
Other recipients include the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology to explore next generation integrated counter improvised explosive device technologies; SYPAQ Systems to develop an enhanced imaging capability for diverse applications; Florestan Technology to develop a multi-fuel, lightweight portable power generation system; and BIA5 to develop an innovative electronic trip flare device.