Australian Defence Industry Incubator
About AUSDII
AUSDII, the Australian Defence Industry Incubator, will be a not-for-profit national incubator focused on supporting, validating and scaling Australian early-stage defence and dual-use companies to transform concepts into real-world sovereign Defence capability.
MISSION
AUSDII’s mission is to grow the pipeline of innovative Australian companies by equipping early-stage companies with the knowledge, skills and connections to become successful in the local and global Defence markets.
Australia’s commercialisation engine for Defence and dual-use technologies
AUSDII is built on the three-year proven track-record of success of the Defence Trailblazer’s DINAMIC incubation program and is modelled on successful international exemplars that support allied nation’s defence capability such as DEFENSEWERX, NATO DIANA, BlueForge Alliance and Brave1.
AUSDII will deliver a bespoke end-to-end incubation program strengthening Australia’s sovereign capabilities aligned with Defence’s strategic growth areas and dual-use technologies including advanced cyber, artificial intelligence and autonomy, electronic warfare, hypersonics and counter-hypersonics, quantum technologies, and undersea warfare.
Why is AUSDII needed?
Australia’s strategic environment demands faster, more agile and collaborative approaches to Defence capability development.
While Australia hosts several innovation incubators, there is no current defence-specific national incubator program that supports Australian early-stage companies developing defence capability.
AUSDII closes a critical gap between technology concept and defence adoption by connecting innovators and early-stage companies with operational endusers, expert advisors, technical capability providers, investors, and global networks.
AUSDII will uplift and de-risk early-stage companies to ensure these companies are ready to support Defence.
AUSDII’s Ecosystem
AUSDII’s commercialisation engine comprises of an ecosystem of participants, trusted delivery partners and end-users that will work together to support the incubation, validation and scaling of early-stage companies to grow the pipeline of innovative Australian defence capabilities.
Participants
Participants of AUSDII programs will comprise of innovators with defence or dual use technologies at Technology Readiness Levels 1-6 including but not limited to entrepreneurs, veteran-founded entities, start-ups, scale ups, SMEs, as well as spinouts and teams from universities and R&D entities such as CSIRO, CRCs & DRCs and ADSUN.
Trusted Delivery Partners
- Mentors and experts
- Australian Defence-focused investors
- Technical Capability providers
- Universities
- DSTG
- Australian National Fabrication Facility
- CSIRO
- Industry partners
End-Users
- Australian Defence and National Security Agencies
- Industry including system integrators and dual-use sectors
- Defence Primes-particularly GSC program participants
- International Partners-AUKUS and FVEY
Programs
AUSDII will support early-stage defence and dual-use companies with a range of support and programs to help validate and scale.
Innovation Program
Activities will include workshops, bootcamps and structured programs to support defence, commercial, technical, investment and export readiness. The program will engage partners, mentors, experts and investors.
This program is based on the Defence Trailblazer DINAMIC programs with input from DEFENSEWORX, NATO DIANA and Blue Forge Alliance.
End-User Operation Trials
Activities focused on demonstrating and trialing solutions with Defence end-users in operational environments. It is envisaged that some of these trials may be with international partners through the AUKUS and FVEY arrangements.
Workforce Program
Connecting tertiary and/or vocational education students in internships and work placements to support early-stage companies’ product development and trials.
Governance model
AUSDII will be a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee.
AUSDII will have a skills-based Board comprising an independent Chair and three independent directors.
To ensure that the Defence and National Security needs are at the forefront of AUSDII considerations, three additional Board positions would be allocated to senior executives nominated by this community.
Funding model
AUSDII will be funded through a partnership model.
AUSDII partners will be drawn from the Commonwealth and State Governments, private capital partners, defence-focussed universities, defence industry, trusted international partners and consulting/advisory firms.
AUSDII will require approximately $3.5 – 4.0m per annum.
Partnership Tiers
AUSDII offers four participation tiers—Strategic, Capital, Core and Foundation—representing different levels of commitment, in‑kind contribution, funding, and strategic influence across the defence innovation ecosystem. These tiers ensure a clear and scalable model for national engagement.
Strategic Partners
ROLE
- Shape innovation priorities
- Provide strategic capability and market insight
- Enable scaling and commercial pathways
- Strategic capital partners will also contribute strategic funding that enables industry development, rapid scaling, and ecosystem-wide capability uplift
BENEFITS
- Strategic influence and leadership
- Early insight and accelerated commercial value
- Enhanced organisational value and workforce outcomes
Capital Partners
ROLE
- Shape an investable pipeline
- Strengthen scale-readiness and investment quality
- Catalyse deployment through coordinated investment
BENEFITS
- Strengthened innovation ecosystem and collaboration
- Early access to de‑risked investment opportunities
- Deal flow aligned to validated demand and impact outcomes
Core Partners
ROLE
- Drive adoption through collaborative projects and workforce uplift
- Contribute specialist expertise and in-kind capability
- Build ecosystem capability through targeted project and program involvement
BENEFITS
- Strategic positioning and influence
- Accelerated commercial and supply‑chain opportunities
- Enhanced talent and capability access
Foundation Partners
ROLE
- Support capability building through targeted project involvement
- Offer focused in‑kind support and contextual insight
- Strengthen new ventures through mentoring, coaching and advisory input
BENEFITS
- Improved visibility and ecosystem positioning
- Expanded business and product opportunities
- Strengthened market credibility and workforce outcomes
How to Get Involved
AUSDII welcomes engagement from organisations across Government, industry, research, finance and the broader national security community. For partnership enquiries or a tailored briefing, please contact:
Sanjay Mazumdar, Executive Director, Defence Trailblazer, smazumdar@dtb.solutions
Register your interest now to receive program updates including information about upcoming industry briefings in Adelaide, Sydney and Canberra.