Australia is boosting its defense capabilities with a nearly 40-million Australian dollar ($26.8 million) investment in emerging tech, including artificial intelligence (AI).
The funding comes through the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator’s (ASCA) Emerging and Disruptive Technologies program, which just awarded 14 contracts to universities and tech firms across the country.
Projects range from machine reasoning and automated data integration to AI systems designed to help the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) make faster, smarter decisions across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains.
ASCA Head Major General Hugh Meggitt described the move as “an important activity to develop future capability and inform potential future ASCA Missions to provide an asymmetric advantage to the ADF.”
Building Homegrown AI Power
In total, ASCA received 123 proposals, highlighting the depth of Australia’s domestic innovation ecosystem.
Contract recipients include universities such as the Australian National University ($685,000), University of New South Wales ($2.16 million), and University of Technology Sydney ($2.18 million).
Private companies are also in the mix, including Cortisonic ($2.17 million) and Swordfish Computing ($2 million).
Chief Defence Scientist Prof. Tanya Monro said the investment strengthens long-term partnerships with industry, academia, and research institutions, helping homegrown solutions reach the field faster.
A Strategic Edge
Decision Advantage is one of six key capability effects in Australia’s 2024 National Defence Strategy.
By integrating AI across multiple domains, the ADF aims to future-proof its operations and maintain an edge over potential adversaries.
