Funding provided by the Defence Science Centre's Collaborative Research Grant will boost the future of defence innovation.
The grant helps build new connections between innovative small and medium enterprises and the defence research sector.
The 7 projects based in Western Australia are set to receive a $870,000 boost from the Commonwealth and State governments.
Covering a wide range of initiatives, the projects funded include weapon-mounted sensors, uncrewed aerial vehicles, space-based optical communications systems and biological warfare defence.
Driven by collaborations across universities, industry and government, the projects were all successful in the third funding round of the WA Defence Science Centre's Collaborative Research Grant.
Successful applicants demonstrated a clear link to Defence's technology-themed Next Generation Technologies Fund priorities, or the round's theme of maritime maintenance and sustainment.
Launched in 2019, the grant initiative provides seed funding, ranging from $50,000 to $150,000, and is available for collaborations between universities, industry and government that include at least one DSC-member university.
In total, the 3 rounds have resulted in almost $2.5 million of funding for 18 research projects.
The DSC's Collaborative Research Grant supports the strategic goals of the WA Government's Western Australian Defence and Defence Industries Strategic Plan, which aims to grow the local defence sector and create jobs.
The following projects were successful round 3 applicants:
- Assessing microbiologically influenced corrosion and material deterioration at HMAS Stirling. Led by Curtin University in collaboration with Defence Science and Technology Group and Duratech Australia - $97,000.
- Advanced development of therapeutics against bacterial pathogens of biowarfare concern. Led by the University of Western Australia in collaboration with Murdoch University, Monash University and DMTC - $150,000.
- (Pictured) Delivery of uncrewed aerial vehicle via autonomous uncrewed ground vehicle for autonomous sensing/search of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear environments. Led by Stealth Technologies in collaboration with the University of Western Australia and the Defence Science and Technology Group; $150,000.
- Developing innovative ‘spray on’ super-hydrophobic surfaces for marine antifouling applications. Led by Murdoch University in collaboration with Curtin University and the Defence Science and Technology Group - $149,500.
- Enhancing space-based optical communications using infrared technology. Led by Curtin University in collaboration with the University of Western Australia, AIRES Pty Ltd, and Defence Science and Technology Group - $150,000.
- Modelling human processing mechanisms to maximize multisensory information processing efficiency in complex decision environments. Led by UWA in collaboration with the United States Air Force, and the Defence Science and Technology Group - $98,150.
- Using weapon-mounted sensors and machine learning to determine human-weapon-system performance. Led by Curtin University in collaboration with the University of Western Australia, Defence Science and Technology Group, and local Perth-based startup Nuheara - $73,000.
