Latest News from ADA-Vic

Hi there,

Applications are now open for the 2022 Australian Defence Sales Catalogue. Now in its sixth edition, the Australian Military Sales (AMS) Catalogue has been showcasing a cross-section of products and services from Australian Defence Industry space.

The 2022 application process will be received and uploaded via ICN Gateway. Each application will still be assessed by Defence and all applications remain ‘commercial-in-confidence’.

To begin your application, please head to the ICN Gateway .

Applications will close at 2359 (AEST) on 26 September 2021.

If you need support or still scratching your head wondering how to engage with and gain traction in the Defence Supply Chain, start attending our events and please get in touch today via info@australiandefencealliance.org.au so that we can point you in the right direction.

US & UK Innovation Opportunities

Austrade has released a series of US and UK Innovation Opportunities. These are as follows:

UK DASA - Competition: Space to Innovate Campaign - Alpha Drop

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) Space Programme is seeking proposals that can aid UK Defence and Security to develop future space technologies. We are looking for innovative solutions that can address a series of challenges released in “drops” throughout 2021 and 2022. These challenges follow the output of various DASA space themed activities; including Space to Innovate Phase 1 and the International Space Pitch Day.

The amount available for this campaign up to 31 March 2023 is expected to be £2m. This “campaign” approach enables varied contract values and durations to be undertaken as part of the competition, which provides larger and longer contracts for more mature technologies, whilst also enabling less mature innovations to be explored. Challenge drops will be open to applications from all innovators and not just those that submitted successful bids in previous ones. Any queries should be sent to accelerator@dstl.gov.uk.

For further information and to submit a response, visit this link here. Response Date: 4 August, 2021.

UK DASA - Market Exploration: Net Zero Emissions Air System

On behalf of the Royal Air Force (RAF) DASA is running a Market Exploration to investigate zero emission options for the replacement of the existing fleet of military light training aircraft. The RAF currently operates a fleet of light aircraft across a variety of sites in the UK. The RAF customer wishes to better understand the market capability in this area and seeks information on the development of relevant technologies and systems that are in development and maturing over the coming 4 years. This information will be used to inform the user requirement specifications for a replacement system. The target date for replacement of the existing fleet is 2027. This Market Exploration activity will not be followed by a formal DASA competition.

For further information and to submit a response, visit this link here. Submissions must be submitted by midday on 17 August 2021.

UK DASA - Competition Document: Open Call for Innovation

The Open Call is one of the funding competition mechanisms DASA uses to find proposals that address challenges faced by government stakeholders. It gives bidders the opportunity to present their ideas to defence and security stakeholders at any time, without waiting for a relevant Themed Competition. The Open Call is looking for innovative ideas to improve the defence and/or security of the UK. Your idea could be a concept, technology or service. Our Emerging Innovations category is for less mature innovations, and our Rapid Impact category is for innovations that are more developed. Suppliers may submit proposals to address any defence challenge or a specific Innovation Focus Area and can submit under either Emerging Innovations or Defence Rapid Impact.

For further information and to submit a response, visit this link here. Competition cycle closes midday on 11 August 2021

Payment Times Reporting Act (2020)

Have you heard of the Payment Times Reporting Act 2020 (Cth) – Companies with a T/O greater than $100m will be required to publicly disclose payment practices to business suppliers (with turnover less than $10m).

Penalties of up to $66000 a day for failure to report. The aim of the act is to provide increased transparency and encourage fairer payment behaviours of larger business, particularly when the average across all industries is 63 days to get paid. Large entities have to report twice a year.

For more information on the legislation, click here.

The Defence + Industry Conference

From the D+I Conference Team

Due to the ongoing COVID pandemic and the current restrictions in place across a large portion of Australia, a decision has been made to defer the D+I Conference and Awards scheduled for July 2021.

The team are busy working to confirm arrangements for the new D+I dates during the first week of October 2021 (5-7 October).

Please put these new dates in your diary and keep your eye out for any updates as the program firms up and the website opens for registrations.

We appreciate your patience and understanding of this change and we look forward to seeing you back in the Nation’s Capital for D+I 2021 in October.

Was planned for 28-29 July 2021, the D+I Conference and Awards have been postponed and will be back soon (hopefully as a physical event at the National Convention Centre in Canberra).

more here

From Defence:

EOIs are now open for interested businesses to attend AUSA from 11-13 October 2021. EOIs close on 1 August 2021. See t he attached flyer and EOIs can be submitted through the ICN webpage.

Team Defence Australia (TDA) is continually looking to support Australian companies at international defence tradeshows in 2021. TDA is mindful there are many factors that will affect what is possible, and how quickly the situation may change. Notwithstanding, TDA is investigating all options to support Australian defence industry at international tradeshows if and where possible.
Aligned with Government's advice, Defence does not promote people to leave Australia, even for business, until the risks from the pandemic reduce. As such, TDA can’t accept company representatives travelling to or from Australia whose primary purpose for travel is to attend a tradeshow as part of a TDA delegation. This advice extends to Australian government employees, and we will be relying on support from staff posted to the Australian Embassy in Washington and Austrade personnel.
To be considered for inclusion in the TDA delegation, companies intending to travel from Australia will be required to provide additional information during the EOI process regarding their planned travel/business around this activity. In addition to this requirement, companies looking to travel from Australia will need to consider the risks associated with, but not limited to, the availability and cost of international flights, reduced international traveller intake and government quarantine requirements.

Defence has issued an RFI for the Sovereign Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise. See more here.
Victorian businesses RingIR, Anywise Consulting, Sentient Vision, BAE Systems Australia and DefendTex Research Labs have all received contracts through the Defence Innovation Hub. See more here.
Thales’s Hawkei vehicle, manufactured in Bendigo, has reached Initial Operating Capability within the Australian Defence Force. See more here.

Other News:

The Commonwealth Government’s Modern Manufacturing Initiative – Collaboration Steam grants will open for applications shortly. See more here.
Titomic secures a grant under the Modern Manufacturing Initiative’s Integration and Translation Stream. See more here.
AMAERO will build a titanium alloy powder manufacturing plant in Victoria. See more here.
A Defence Connect interview with Harry Hickling from APV Safety Products. See more here.

Upcoming Victorian Government Virtual Trade Missions

London Tech Week 2021 - Virtual Trade Mission 20 - 29 September 2021

The Victorian Government, through Global Victoria, invites scaleup Victorian technology companies to join a Virtual Technology Trade Mission to London Tech Week (LTW) 2021.
In partnership with Creative Victoria and UK Department of International Trade, this virtual trade mission leverages LTW as a platform to create a program of targeted business matching meetings, interactive roundtable discussions, and market focussed webinars to showcase the opportunities that exist in the UK and broader European market.
Export ready Victorian technology companies with solutions in Future Technology, HealthTech, EdTech and Createch are invited to join London Tech Week 2021.
Key dates:
21 July 2021 – Application Close

20 – 29 September 2021 - Virtual webinars, roundtable discussions and virtual business matching. Click here to register
For further information contact Stuart Bland stuart.bland@global.vic.gov.au or Majella Hamilton majella.hamilton@global.vic.gov.au

Big Data & AI World - Virtual Trade Mission 19 – 26 October 2021

Export ready Victorian technology companies with solutions in big data, AI, cybersecurity, Internet of Things and more are invited to join the Big Data & AI World Singapore Virtual Trade Mission.
This virtual trade mission includes interactive roundtable discussions with regional big data ecosystem experts and attendance at Big Data & AI World virtual events affording participants insights into the sector and showcasing the opportunities for your business. A bespoke business matching program tailored to your company’s needs will be delivered by a leading market intelligence and business matching consultant.
Key dates:
19 – 21 October: Big Data & AI World virtual events and roundtable discussions

22 – 26 October: Virtual business matching program. Click here to register
For further information contact Madelaine Kenihan madelaine.kenihan@global.vic.gov.au or Stuart Bland stuart.bland@global.vic.gov.au

Victorian Common User Facility

If industry requires access to secure communications facilities to engage with Defence, this can be provided through the Victorian Common User Facility.

Links to Grant and other Programs:

Secure Facility for Defence Industry
(Common User Facility)

The Victorian Common User Facility is an initiative to facilitate enhanced engagement by Victorian businesses and the innovation community with Defence and National Security programs. This unique facility is the first of its type in Australia.

Located in the Melbourne CBD, the facility allows appropriately-cleared personnel to access Defence secure networks, and provides secure offices and work areas for undertaking limited-duration activities such as meetings, bid preparation, and small-scale experiments. The facility also contains a secure Video Teleconference (VTC) room.

The facility has reached Initial Operating Capability, and is now available for use by Victorian businesses

For enquiries regarding use of the facility, please contact: Joshua Yuson

Victorian Government Launches

$15.7 million
Export Recovery Package (ERP)

Global Victoria is delivering an Export Skills Program as part of the Victorian Government's $15.7 million Export Recovery Package (ERP), more here.

The program aims to help Victorian businesses impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) to grow and develop their export skills and capabilities.

Want to know more?

For more information about the Export Skills Program, contact us by sending an email to info@global.vic.gov.au

Defence National Manufacturing
Priority road map released

The Goals

2 years: Manufacturers are investing more in addressing Defence priority capabilities and other market opportunities have improved their linkages within the defence ecosystem.

5 years: Greater manufacturing capability and increased participation in defence supply chains by Australian businesses. Smaller manufacturers are scaling up, creating the underrepresented ‘middle’ of the defence industry.

10 years: More Australian businesses are contributing to local and international defence supply chains, while more Australian innovation and intellectual property is contributing to products supplied to the ADF and other markets.

For the website with more details see more here

RMIT - HAPS Challenge
(High Altitude Pseudo Satellites)

The HAPS Challenge aims to energise local Australian development of key technologies and to ensure Australian sovereign HAPS that have accurate station-keeping capability or long endurance capacity needed to allow deployment over an area of operations for a period of days to weeks.

Trusted Autonomous Systems, SmartSat CRC, and RAAF Air Warfare Centre in association with SLWDAC at RMIT invites Australian companies to enter the High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) Challenge. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to our national capability.

Phase 2 Submission Due Date = 8th October 2021

Phase 2 Shortlist for Phase 3 completed = 12th November 2021

Phase 3 Commencement = 15th November 2021

Phase 3 completion and demonstration = 20th May 2022

More information on how to enter can be found here