210+
industry partners, of which 87% are SMEs
100+
technologies advanced
277
industry-academic collaborations
800+
students and industry professionals upskilled
87
ventures accelerated
$875m
boosting Australia’s GDP
ABOUT THE INITIATIVE
In collaboration with defence industry, academic and government partners, Defence Trailblazer aims to strengthen Australia’s defence capabilities with cutting edge technologies and solutions, while equipping the next generation of innovators with specialised knowledge and skills to meet the needs of defence.
Focusing on removing barriers for university-industry collaborations, the Defence Trailblazer will drive stronger commercialisation activities paving the way for long-term impact.
Learn More
Latest News
Dragonfly Thinking completes Defence Trailblazer project to advance AI decision-support platform
Dragonfly Thinking has delivered a Defence Trailblazer-supported project to advance the company’s Artificial Intelligence decision-support platform, in collaboration with Adelaide University’s Australian Institute for Machine Learning.
Defence Trailblazer 2026 Capability Showcase sets the stage for AUSDII: Australian Defence Industry Incubator
Defence Trailblazer has delivered its most significant Capability Showcase to date with the successful staging of DTECH26 at Parliament House, Canberra on 24 March. The event marked an important point of progression for the Defence Trailblazer initiative and set the stage for the launch of the successor program, AUSDII: the Australian Defence Industry Incubator.
Upcoming Events
ADF Innovators Webinar (exclusive for Defence members)
Uniformed innovators face additional considerations when pursuing innovation pathways, including ADF innovation pathways, intellectual property (IP),
conflicts of interest, funding and financial considerations. This webinar will provide practical insights and real-world perspectives to support informed decision making throughout the innovation journey.
Commercialisation Bootcamp (Adelaide)
Adelaide Bootcamp: 2-3 June 2026. Are you a researcher or innovator with minimal commercialisation experience? The Defence Trailblazer Commercialisation Bootcamps are designed just for you! Gain valuable entrepreneurship insights and connect with experienced professionals and defence industry experts.
Commercialisation Bootcamp (Canberra)
Canberra Bootcamp: 10-11 June 2026. Are you a researcher or innovator with minimal commercialisation experience? The Defence Trailblazer Commercialisation Bootcamps are designed just for you! Gain valuable entrepreneurship insights and connect with experienced professionals and defence industry experts.