Article courtesy of Defence Trailblazer

Defence Trailblazer has seen a strong start to 2025, with 35 industry-led projects contracted to fast-track the translation of defence research & development (R&D) activities, and 19 further projects in the pipeline.

The projects involve 26 different industry partners and represent $135M of R&D activities aligned to Australian Defence requirements in areas of strategic priority.

R&D projects are led by Defence Trailblazer industry partners and academics at one or both of the Defence Trailblazer universities, the University of Adelaide and UNSW. A majority of the projects are led by small-medium enterprises (SMEs), reflecting Defence Trailblazer’s commitment to investing in Australia’s innovation ecosystem.

Technology Development & Acceleration

Through its Advanced Innovation Fund, Defence Trailblazer’s Technology Development & Acceleration (TDA) portfolio funds projects across five key priority areas: Quantum Materials, Technologies & Computing; Defensive Hypersonics & Countermeasures; Information Warfare & Advanced Cyber Technologies; Robotics, Autonomous Systems & AI; and Defence Space Technologies.

Many of the projects will generate and improve dual-use technologies for Defence and civilian applications, such as the partnership between the University of Adelaide and HB11 developing high-powered laser systems, with a target of developing Australian sovereign laser manufacturing capability to address the needs of the defence, clean energy and health sectors.

Canberra-based SME Dragonfly Thinking will use its funding to further develop artificial intelligence (AI) tools for its decision support platform. The strategic decision-making platform is designed for businesses and policymakers dealing with complex, interconnected problems across government and private sectors.

Some industry partners have secured support for several Defence Trailblazer projects, including Lockheed Martin Australia, Praetorian Aeronautics, Northrop Grumman Australia, QuantX Labs, and CAE Australia.

Adelaide-based SME Praetorian Aeronautics is collaborating with University of Adelaide academics on several projects to advance AI-enabled unmanned autonomous systems, while CAE Australia is working with UNSW on adaptable training systems to enhance the performance and safety of military personnel in complex operational environments – a multidisciplinary approach that combines cognitive science, biometrics, and artificial intelligence.

“The breadth and scale of the projects proposed by our industry partners is impressive, and speaks to the success of the Advanced Innovation Fund,” said Dr Margaret Law, General Manager of TDA at Defence Trailblazer. “As the projects progress, we look forward to sharing their progress and achievements with Defence, focusing on the sovereign capabilities benefiting both government and the civilian sector.”

Accelerating Sovereign Industrial Capabilities

Defence Trailblazer’s Accelerating Sovereign Industrial Capabilities (ASIC) grant funding program was established in 2024 to enable faster commercialisation of R&D activities. The projects are closely aligned with the Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities (SDIPs) outlined in the Defence Industry Development Strategy, to strengthen Australia’s defence capabilities now and into the future.

12 ASIC projects are currently underway, with projects to be completed by December 2026. The industry partners include Akula Tech, Bluerydge, CAE Australia, Electric Motor Power, Lockheed Martin Australia, M&C Saatchi World Services, Praxis Labs, QuantX Labs, REQUIEM Systems, Space Machines Company, and UBIQUT.

The projects cover a breadth of technological themes, with applications across all domains of Defence, including air, land, maritime, cyber and space. Under the Defence space technologies theme, Space Machines Company is developing space-borne perception and intelligence technology for space domain awareness.

Quantum materials and technologies are well-represented in the R&D projects, and include projects to develop next-generation quantum sensors for challenging marine and space domains (REQUIEM Systems and UBIQUT).

Several projects under the theme of Information Warfare & Cyber have commenced, including a project led by M&C Saatchi World Services – the first multi-party collaboration between Defence Trailblazer and the two universities. The project will forecast irregular migration and model the effects of potential deterrence intervention strategies. Future customers include Defence and government departments responsible for border security.

R&D projects focusing on robotics, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence aim to reinforce technological sovereignty and enhance operational capabilities of Defence infrastructure. The diverse projects under this theme range from tactical solar camouflage for Defence mobility vehicles (Praxis Labs) to adaptive swarm intelligence for unmanned aerial systems (Akula Tech). Canberra-based SME Bluerydge is working on a project to develop and deploy next-generation AI chatbots that address the critical need for data sovereignty, while also creating opportunities for broader applications such as healthcare.

“The ASIC and TDA programs have provided Defence Trailblazer partners with different opportunities to engage with university academics to meet their needs,” said Dr Law. “Many of our partners have leveraged support from several of our programs across R&D, workforce and innovation.”

Along with R&D project funding, industry partners are able to access workforce skilling and attraction programs through the Defence Trailblazer’s suite of workforce programs. To date, Defence Trailblazer has facilitated 81 student internships, industry-funded PhDs and staff exchanges with the University of Adelaide and UNSW, with many more placements in the pipeline.

Defence Trailblazer also uplifts research commercialisation activities through the Defence, Industry & Academia Military Innovation & Commercialisation (DINAMIC) program, which has supported more than 30 innovators and researchers to develop cutting-edge technology that can contribute to Australia’s strategic defence capability.

“We are thrilled to support our industry and academic partners to accelerate the translation of cutting-edge research to commercially ready products that will uplift sovereign capabilities for Defence and support a workforce with critical skills for defence industry,” said Dr Sanjay Mazumdar, Executive Director of Defence Trailblazer.

For more information, visit the Defence Trailblazer website.

About the Defence Trailblazer: Defence Trailblazer is a collaborative partnership between the University of Adelaide and UNSW supported by the Department of Education and over 95 industry partners. Defence Trailblazer is dedicated to advancing Australia’s defence capabilities through innovative research and strategic partnerships. By collaborating with industry, academia, and government, we aim to develop and commercialise breakthrough technologies that address critical national security challenges.