About

Defence Trailblazer is part of the Australian Government’s Department of Education Trailblazer Universities Program.

The Trailblazer program is designed to build new research capabilities and drive translation and commercialisation in priority areas identified in the Modern Manufacturing Strategy.

Under the program six universities have been selected to solve problems of national significance to Australia’s future security and economic growth.

The University of Adelaide and UNSW were selected through a competitive process to lead the delivery of Defence Trailblazer.

In collaboration with 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.

Defence Trailblazer consists of two distinct focus areas: Workforce, Innovation and Culture and Technology Development & Acceleration.

Our Mission

Through an enhanced defence, industry and university partnership, we will:​

Workforce, Innovation & Culture

Skilling the workforce of today and shaping the workforce of tomorrow, supporting the acceleration of ideas into commercial application, and promoting a culture of collaboration between industry and academia.

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Technology Development & Acceleration

Accelerating the translation and commercialisation of leading-edge technologies across the following priority areas:

  • Quantum Materials, Technologies & Computing
  • Information Warfare & Advanced Cyber Technologies
  • Defence Space Technologies
  • Defensive Hypersonics & Countermeasures
  • Robotics, Autonomous Systems & AI
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