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Sutton Tools is a leader in applying Industry 4.0 principles to improve productivity and was the stimulus for DMTC’s Smart Enough Factory Program. The morning tea will include a tour of the facility and we will meet in their Smart Centre.

Using simple cost effective technology, DMTC's Smart Enough Factory project demonstrates the adoption of Industry 4.0 fundamentals in away that is relevant to small businesses, improving the digital literacy of the entire company, from machinery operators through to senior management. Please click link to 4 minute 45 second video for further information.

Defence Funding to Increase to $764.6 Billion Over the Next 10 Years

The Government is delivering historic investments in the Australian Defence Force (ADF), our people, our capabilities, our defence industry and our region, as we further strengthen the defence of our nation.

The 2024 National Defence Strategy and 2023 Defence Strategic Review call for significant and urgent changes to our defence settings to respond to our complex strategic environment and deliver an integrated, focused Defence Force.

The 2024-25 Budget sees Defence funding increase to $764.6 billion over the decade to support a more capable and self-reliant Defence Force that can safeguard Australia’s security into the future.

At the centre of the Government’s renewed investment in Defence is the allocation of $330 billion over the decade to 2033-34 for the rebuilt Integrated Investment Program – a significant lift compared to the $270 billion allocated as part of the 2020 Defence Strategic Update and 2020 Force Structure Plan.

This includes:

An additional $5.7 billion over the forward estimates – the largest increase to Defence spending over a forward estimates period in decades.
An additional $50.3 billion over the next decade.

As a result of these significant investments, the annual Defence budget will grow to an estimated $100 billion by 2033-34 compared to $53 billion this financial year.

This will see Defence funding as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product reach over 2.3% by 2033-34 – more than 0.2% higher than the spending trajectory set by the former Coalition government.

The Government’s commitment to Defence is an investment in a future made in Australia – ensuring we keep Australians safe, while delivering jobs and opportunities right across the country for decades to come.

Integrated Investment Program

The 2024 Integrated Investment Program (IIP) supports the Albanese Government’s funding decisions by prioritising investments that help meet our changing strategic environment.

This will include $11.1 billion over the decade to support the Government’s response to the Surface Combatant Fleet review, providing a larger and more lethal surface fleet, and an additional $1 billion over the next four years to accelerate ADF preparedness including long-range strike, targeting and autonomous systems.

2024-25 Budget initiatives

As the 2024-25 Budget outlines, the Albanese Government is also investing in other crucial areas to strengthen our defence settings, including:

$81.9 million towards defence industry for critical jobs, including for scholarships, attracting and recruiting apprentices under the Shipbuilding Employment Pathways Initiative, supply chain support and uplifting the defence industrial workforce.
$166.2 million over five years from 2023-24 in grants to support small and medium businesses and local defence industry as part of the Defence Industry Development Strategy.
$28 million over 2024-25 to 2027-28 to implement reforms under the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024, including to support industry engagement and accelerate trade between AUKUS partners.
$232.3 million of international military support and assistance activities between 2023-24 and 2024-25, including $144.3 million in additional military support to Ukraine.
$17.5 million to establish a new Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence to enhance parliamentary oversight and understanding of Defence’s role in responding to Australia’s challenging strategic environment.

The Defence funding confirmed in the 2024-25 Budget advances the implementation of the Government’s six immediate priorities announced in response to the Defence Strategic Review. It will also deliver the capabilities required to achieve an integrated, focused Defence Force across all domains – maritime, land, air, space and cyber – in line with the concept of National Defence.

Defence Budget 2024-25 Documents

Registrations are open for the Australian Defence Science Technology And Research (ADSTAR) Summit 2024, in Canberra from 17-19 September. This is your opportunity to come together with other researchers and innovators as we discuss how to give Defence an asymmetric advantage through science and technology.

Could your science and tech help keep Australia safe?

Defence needs your ideas, your disruptive technologies: from cybersecurity to quantum technology, drones to lasers, new explosives to material science. ADSTAR speaker submissions are also now open, closing on 3 June.

Now in its 22nd year, the annual Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards recognise outstanding achievements in Victoria’s manufacturing industry.

Nominations for the 2024 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards are now open.

Award winners will be announced at the gala dinner Wednesday 9 October.

Nominations for the 2024 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards can be made on the eAwards website.

Read the guidelines for the 2024 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards.

2024 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards — Nomination and assessment guidelines (PDF 300.38 KB)

Nominations will close at 11:59pm Monday 17 June 2024.

Registrations are now open for the Land Environment Working Group 2024, in Canberra on Wednesday 10 July at Hotel Realm.

The event is Army’s key engagement with industry, where Australian Army will discuss future land capability priorities and investment plans.

Working group sessions give you the opportunity to collaborate and provide feedback to Army earlier in the capability planning stage.

Capacity is limited, book your spot now: LEWG 2024 (eventsair.com)

Global Science and Technology Diplomacy Fund – Strategic Element

Expressions of interest are now open for the Global Science & Technology Diplomacy Fund - Strategic Element and are closing 31 May 2024.

$6 million in grants are available to grow international collaboration in our region, enhance Australia’s standing as a science and technology leader, and drive innovation and commercialisation in priority areas.

Grants from AUD $100,000 to $1,000,000 are available for eligible Australian organisations collaborating on key areas of science and technology with priority partner countries across the Asia-Pacific.

More info >

Dept of Industry, Science and Resources - Cooperative Research Centres Project Grants - Round 16

CRC-P Round 16 was opened by The Hon Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science on 24 April 2024 and will close at 17:00 AEST on 5 June 2024. The Round is open to all industry sectors however will have a focus on supporting projects in line with Government priorities, including the National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) priority areas.

The CRC Program supports industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and the community. It’s a proven way to link researchers with industry. The focus is on research and development that will have commercial uses. Matched funding of between $100,000 and $3M over 3 years is available for industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and the community.

The program aims to:

improve the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries, especially where Australia is competitive and in government priority areas
use high quality research to solve industry-identified problems
encourage and help SMEs to take part in collaborative research

More info >

Workplace Gender Equality Act Timelines

Employers must take steps to comply with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012. Businesses seeking to supply goods and services to the Australian Government may need to provide a Certificate of Compliance with the Act. To be eligible for a certificate you need to submit a report or seek an extension by 31 May 2024.

More info >

SME Connect Programs

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has announced a $20 million investment to provide small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with greater access to vital research and development (R&D) opportunities to accelerate their growth.

The funding will allow CSIRO’s SME Connect team to support up to 750 SMEs through a range of programs and initiatives that provide facilitation, training, dollar-matched funding and support to start-ups and SMEs seeking to engage in company-led research projects.

One of the programs being supported is SME Connects flagship program, CSIRO Kick-Start. Since its inception in 2017, the Kick-Start program has facilitated over 280 company-led R&D projects, with alumni companies collectively holding a market value exceeding $2 billion.

Dr Doug Hilton, CSIRO’s Chief Executive, emphasised the significance of this investment and the transformative impact it would have for Australia’s critical SME sector.

The Victorian Land Systems Fund – Supply Chain Uplift Program will support Victorian defence industry businesses to work with Hanwha Defense Australia (Hanwha) as part of its supply chain. The program will help build businesses’ capabilities so they can help Hanwha deliver the Commonwealth Government’s $1 billion Land 8116 Self-Propelled Howitzer program.

Funding will support eligible Victorian businesses to:

gain relevant accreditations and meet industry specific compliance requirements
prepare tenders
undertake minor facilities upgrades and equipment fit outs
develop new or enhance current defence products or services
undertake defence R&D
participate in trade missions to pursue collaboration and export opportunities.

Businesses must engage with Hanwha and receive its support before applying.

Applications to the Victorian Land Systems Fund Supply Chain Uplift Program are now open and close on 30 June 2024 or when funds have been exhausted, whichever comes first.

Industry Growth Program - Support for Innovative SMEs to Commercialise and Grow their Business

The program supports innovative small and medium enterprises undertaking commercialisation and/or growth projects within the National Reconstruction Fund priority areas through advisory services and opportunities for matched grant funding. Minor changes or improvements to existing products or services are not considered innovative.

You will be connected to an Industry Growth Program Adviser who will provide tailored advice to support your commercialisation and/or growth project.

Once you have received this advice, you may also be able to apply for:

grants of $50,000 to $250,000 to support early-stage commercialisation projects
grants of $100,000 to $5 million for commercialisation and growth projects.

More info >

Strategic Policy Grants Program

The Defence Strategic Policy Grants Program (SPGP) funds independent work to deepen public debate on strategic issues relevant to Australia and inform the development of Australia’s defence policy and strategy.

The SPGP is an annual, open and competitive grant opportunity that funds independent strategic policy-focused research and related activities, such as conferences, dialogues, simulations and seminars.

For SPGP 2024, a total of $3.5 million is available over the period between 2024 and 2027, with total funding spread across multiple grants.

The objectives of the program are to support the achievement of Defence’s purpose, mission and purpose by:

deepening public debate about Australia’s strategic and defence policy choices
informing the development of Australia’s defence policy and strategy
strengthening Defence’s international and domestic partnerships
broadening participation in Australia’s strategic and defence policy debate.

The intended outcomes of the program are:

the publication of original, well-informed and policy-relevant research
engagements between Defence and leading non-government experts
events and activities involving Defence’s international and domestic counterparts
participation by new and emerging talent in Australia’s strategic and defence policy debate.

Applications for SPGP 2024 must be lodged by organisations holding an Australian Business Number or equivalent business registration number. Individuals with different organisational affiliations can submit a joint application to SPGP 2024. This must identify a project lead as well as a lead organisation accountable to the Australian Government, through Defence, for any agreed grant activities.

To be eligible the grant activity must:

support Defence’s purpose, mission and priorities
satisfy one or more of the program’s objectives and outcomes
align with priorities and challenges outlined in the Defence Strategic Review
be new, unfunded, and distinct from any business-as-usual activity.

More info >

Australian Space Industry Capability Database

The Australian Space Industry Capability database will open for industry submissions from mid-July. Companies can upload information on their:

• Location

• Capability

• Workforce

The database has been developed by SIAA and is supported by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), the Australian Space Agency, the Office of Defence Industry Support and SmartSat CRC.

Australia Partner Network

Leidos Australia is focused on working with Australian Industry for delivery of all of our projects. We know the importance of supporting the growth of sovereign capability and would like to work with more Australian businesses at all stages of our delivery lifecycle.

We encourage Australian companies, who are interested in working with us on the opportunities identified above or on other business requirements as they arise, to complete the following registration form.

In your submission, you should highlight your experience with any relevant Defence, Intelligence, ICT and cyber capabilities and technologies. Our team will then be in touch to identify potential next steps.

In partnership with 25eight, the Australian Defence Export Office (ADEO) has developed the Trade Event Ready Program to help business leaders fully prepare for trade events and increase the perception of Australia’s sovereign capability in the international market.

This program is fully funded for eligible Australian businesses that are looking to export defence and dual-use goods and services.

Click here to learn more about the ADEO Trade Event Ready Program and to register your interest.

ODIS provides a range of grants to support defence industry businesses. These grants help Australian small and medium enterprises grow to meet Defence capability needs and join global defence industry supply chains.

Click here to learn more about available grants

The ODIS Defence Business Readiness Tool (DBRT) is a platform used by our Industry Engagement Team to assess the Defence Readiness of Australian Small and Medium Enterprises. The DBRT is the first step in the journey to becoming a supplier to Defence.

To use this secure tool you must have an account. You can either sign in with an existing account or create a new one. You will need to provide your Australian Business Number (ABN) when registering your account.

Get Defence Ready with DBRT 2.0 and unlock the true potential of your SME within the Defence industry!

Defence + Industry (D+I) Conference - Save the Date

The key timings for D+I 2024 are as follows:

• Wednesday, 31 July 2024

o 1600 – 1800 – Pre registration and event badge collection

o 1800 – 2000 - Welcome reception and industry networking event

• Thursday, 1 August 2024

o 0830 – 1700 - D+I Conference

Location

• Both events will be held at the National Convention Centre in Canberra.

Please ensure you save 31 July and 1 August 2024 in your diaries and keep an eye out for the next update which will include details on how to access the D+I 2024 registration portal to secure your seat.