Our Staff Mobility Program strengthened Australia’s defence innovation system by connecting university capability with industry partners, promoting knowledge transfer and fostering a dynamic exchange of expertise.
Ocius Technology and UNSW Canberra are collaborating to develop advanced mathematical modelling and autonomous control systems for the Bluebottle Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) fleet to optimise its performance and power usage.
The Defence Industry Growth & Resilience (DIGR) Program has supported 40 Defence Trailblazer industry partners with a total of $3 million grant funding to support $14.9 million worth of projects and activities.
The program, which was finalised in the first quarter of 2026, supported businesses to scale and compete to deliver sovereign capability.
Defence Trailblazer is empowering Australian Defence Force veterans to establish themselves as founders of early-stage companies that deliver sovereign capability. Since 2023, Defence’s Trailblazer innovation programs have provided a launchpad for veterans and innovators from all backgrounds to pursue defence industry opportunities.
Lockheed Martin Australia is making an impact in systems-level R&D architecture through collaborations with UNSW and Adelaide University researchers .
Delivered through Lockheed Martin Australia’s Advanced Systems & Technologies R&D team, the six projects are building advanced capabilities in hypersonics, space systems and artificial intelligence (AI) to inform their ‘Southern Shield’ anti-access, area-denial R&D strategy.
Leaders from government and academia came together this week to reflect on the outcomes of the Trailblazer Universities Program towards reshaping Australia’s research and innovation landscape. The event highlighted the collective achievements of the Trailblazers and the growing momentum behind mission‑driven university research built on large‑scale collaboration.
Acacia Systems is advancing Onyx, its passive sonar automatic capability, to deliver enhanced tracking performance across a wider range of challenging acoustic environments.
The collaborative project with UNSW represents over 25 years of investment in research to develop a critical sovereign capability.
Defence Trailblazer’s DINAMIC innovation & entrepreneurship program has taken out the Best Training & Development Program at the Australian Defence & National Security Workforce Awards 2026. The program has been recognised for its role in training Australian researchers and innovators to navigate the pathway from emerging venture to Defence capability.