NEWS & INITIATIVES

Late last year the Commonwealth released a Request For Information (RFI) seeking to understand the sovereign industry capacity and maturity that is available to support delivery of the Modernisation of Maritime Electronic Warfare Program. Although the RFI had a good response the criteria to respond may have precluded some organisations with capability in this area from participating in the RFI. Particularly SMEs without existing security clearance, and publicly funded research organisations likewise currently lacking this accreditation or otherwise may have thought that the scope of the technology was not in their realm.

The Australia Academy of Science (AAS) has launched the COVID-19 Experts Database for governments, the business sector, the research sector, and other decision-makers to easily access the expertise they need to inform their decision making.

There are two solicitations from Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP), on behalf of the US Coast Guard. SVIP is the US Department of Homeland Security’s alternative procurement agency to reach alternative innovators in the Silicon Valley and similar ecosystems. It is different to DIU in terms that while DIU seeks mature technologies that it can put into warfighters’ hands very quickly hence opening solicitations for only 10 working days, SVIP seeks to develop new capabilities from lower TRLs. Its calls are open for up to one year and SVIP accepts applications every three months, see below the three quarterly dates.

Invisible shield: Countering IEDs by novel technology and techniques

This Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) competition is run on behalf of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL). It aims to develop and demonstrate a number of novel technologies and techniques in the area of Counter-IED ECM.