Latest News from ADA-Vic

Hi there,

The Victorian based company, Titomic has been awarded a $2.325 million Federal Government Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) grant to manufacture and commercialise low carbon emission “green” titanium space vehicle demonstrator parts for the Australian space sector and export markets.

The initiative aims to stimulate business investment in the manufacturing sector by addressing barriers to scale and competitiveness for Australian manufacturers. It aims to build manufacturing capabilities and networks, lift productivity, create jobs, build global competitiveness and boost the export potential of Australian manufacturers.

Another great example of Victorian Defence Industry capability.

Banks' COVID-19 Relief Program

The ACCC has granted interim authorisation to allow the Australian Banking Association (ABA) and banks to continue to work together on a variety of existing COVID-19 related relief packages, so they can respond to any further outbreaks as required.

The COVID-19 related relief packages allow for temporary and limited coordination between the ABA and participating banks to defer loan repayments and waive certain banking fees for small businesses impacted by the pandemic. The coordination also allows banks to facilitate second phase financial recovery and maintain access to banking services for small businesses.

Small businesses are encouraged to contact their bank to discuss the COVID-19 related relief package.

Thales Rise in Supply Chain Spending

Thales Australia has revealed its supply chain spending hit new heights in 2020 despite the COVID-induced drag on the global economy.

The analysis, which examined millions of payments from Thales Australia to its Australian suppliers, found that the prime spent approximately $657 million with 1,841 Australian firms, of which roughly 1,500 were SMEs.

The increase in spending was estimated to support 2,051 jobs in the Australian supply chain.

Australian Defence Exporter Grant

The Morrison Government is continuing to support growth and export opportunities in Australia’s defence sector through the Defence Global Competitiveness grants program.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price announced on the 31st of August more than $1.2 million in grant funding to boost the export capability of six Australian small businesses. One such company is the Victorian business Trakka Corp.

Trakka Corp, will use its grant to acquire specialist equipment to perform in-house environmental stress screening for components they produce. This will enhance Trakka’s quality assurance process and increase their export potential.

Companies can apply for a Defence Global Competitiveness Grant at any time.

From Defence:

Defence will review the Global Supply Chain Program. See more here and the Terms of Reference can be found here.
Submission are now open for the 2022 Australian Defence Sale Catalogue. See more here.
The Commonwealth Government has launched the next stage of the ‘Act Now Stay Secure’ cyber security campaign. See more here.
Defence has released the 2019-20 Defence Industry and Capability Innovation Programs Annual Report. This covers the Next Generation Technology Fund (NGTF), the Defence Innovation Hub (DIH) and the Centre for Defence Industry Capability. Victorian entities received 25 percent of NGTF funding and 28 percent of DIH funding since the inception of these programs. See more here.
Aquaterro is awarded a $35 million contract to upgrade the in-service combat helmet. See more here.

Other News:

The Victorian and Commonwealth Governments have co-funded a new support package for businesses impacted by COVID. See more here.
The Australian Defence Magazine’s Women in Defence Awards has be rescheduled to 15 September 2021. See more here.

COVID Support

Support and guidance for businesses dealing with COVID can be found here.

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.

BAE Systems Hunter Class Opportunities

BAE Systems Maritime Australia’s Innovation team is seeking Expressions of Interest from industry to support the Hunter Class Frigate Program (HCFP) to:

Investigate manufacturing technologies, materials, coatings, and processes with the potential to improve the sail away performance of the nine Hunter class frigates;
Investigate infrastructure, the workforce, and shipyard capabilities to ensure the Osborne Naval Shipyard maintains high levels of productivity, quality and safety; and,
Investigate ongoing maintenance or future capability upgrades that may immediately influence the design and delivery of the nine Hunter Frigates to be built at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia.

The team will evaluate submissions quarterly - with feedback - until June 2022.

Each EOI reviewed by the Hunter Innovation Team may be considered for future steps including a Request for Information (RFI) and/or Request for Proposal (RFP). This may lead to a an agreement for a scope of work which could be in the form of a Research Task, Case Study; Feasibility Studies; Proof of Concept; Prototyping; or other agreed scope of work.

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