On Wednesday, 6 August 2025, the Defence Trailblazer hosted a tailored University IP & Commercialisation masterclass. Held in-person in Canberra, this dynamic three-hour workshop brought together UNSW academics, PhD students, research administrators, and technology transfer professionals to explore the intricacies of intellectual property and the pathways to successful research commercialisation.
Saab Australia and academic experts from the University of Adelaide and UNSW are developing a strategic planning tool for maritime defence to respond to advanced threats.
Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), the planning and decision support tool is designed to enhance the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to conduct its operations, with a specific focus on optimising defensive postures against hypersonic threats.
At Defence Trailblazer, the students we connect with industry partners are making a long-term impact in the workforce. Eugene Lamnek is one of dozens of students who’ve taken part in our Workforce Connect initiatives.
Professor Matt Garratt leads the Defence Trailblazer’s UNSW team for Robotics, Autonomous Systems and Artificial Intelligence (RASAI).
“At UNSW Canberra, we have a unique microcosm representing all of the key focus areas of Defence Trailblazer. This allows me to not just work in RASAI but also dabble in other fields such as hypersonics, space and cyber,” says Professor Garratt.
On Friday, 18 July 2025, UNSW Kensington came alive with energy and purpose as StudentXConnect welcomed over 90 students, academics, and defence industry professionals for a half-day event focused on building the future workforce of Australia’s defence sector.
The ACE Training Centre, part of Toll Group Government and Defence, and UNSW are developing an advanced mixed reality helmet-based training system, funded by the Defence’s Trailblazer’s Accelerating Sovereign Industrial Capabilities (ASIC) program.
Defence Trailblazer is pleased to announce that QuantX Labs has signed a new research project agreement with the University of Adelaide to mature their existing quantum sensing and timekeeping technologies. The $13.8 million project will advance existing designs from prototypes to deployable systems.
Ocius Technology and UNSW Canberra are partnering on a project to increase the rapid scaling of production of Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs). Supported by funding from Defence Trailblazer, the project is developing an integrated production and maintenance facility and an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered logistics support framework.