Minister Pyne launches new defence network at Uni Adelaide

Wednesday, 8 November 2017

Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne today launched the new University of Adelaide Defence Research and Innovation Network, which will see Defence Science & Technology Group and defence industry researchers working on campus alongside University researchers and students.

They will collaborate on projects across more than 20 research areas, including photonics and advanced sensing, machine learning and artificial intelligence, distributed software systems, and cyber security.

The aim is closer engagement with co-investment in key capabilities for much more rapid outcomes.

“The University of Adelaide has a great history of leading-edge research in defence over many decades,” says University of Adelaide Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Mike Brooks.

“We now want to move that up a gear, and deepen our engagement through co-investment in key capabilities under a true partnership model.

“Experience has shown us that co-located researchers deliver greatly enhanced research outcomes, especially in terms of how quickly new developments can be made.”

Minister Pyne launched the Adelaide Defence Research and Innovation Network after a tour of some of the University of Adelaide’s world-leading research in defence, including:

• very high-powered laser technology for directed energy applications – an important counter measures technology
• the Sapphire Clock – the world’s most precise clock – which is of critical importance to the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) upgrade
• machine learning research capability, with numerous defence applications, including in trusted autonomous systems
• the Trusted Autonomous Systems Multi-Agent Control Laboratory – developing new approaches to how multiple autonomous systems can communicate and coordinate their actions.

The University is also establishing a Defence Research and Innovation Hub, which will be a first port of call for defence-related research and innovation at the University of Adelaide.

The Hub will have facilities to support short and long-term hosting of DST Group and defence industry research partners.

“We are very proud to be a key partner of DST’s in many areas of research, and we are committed to strengthening our partnership through this and other means,” says Professor Brooks.

“Our nation’s future defence depends on those who can bring together the different strengths of government research, universities and industry to develop new capabilities and to solve problems important to us all.”

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