Latest Defence News from ADA-Vic

Hi there,

We kicked off the year with a BANG on the 21st of January, running the first face-to-face event for the year.

It was a great night with the Head of Land Systems, MAJGEN Andrew Bottrell as the main speaker. We had a wide representation from Industry including the CEO's and MDs of many SMEs, representatives from Primes, CDIC advisors and Vic Gov personnel mixing with Member organisations in a well-orchestrated Business Speed Dating (BSD) networking session.

The Defence Industry is made up of a huge variety of different business types all working hard to delivery capability within Defence projects, creating, maintaining, managing and much more!

This was very well attended and the feedback has been very positive. Due to the demand, we are organising another face-to-face Business Speed Dating event in the next few weeks.

The much anticipated Annual ADA-Vic Golf Day & Defence Networking Event is on!

This event brings people together from all around Australia for a fantastic day of networking set amongst an amazing backdrop for lunch, golf and dinner.

Speakers have not been locked in concrete yet, however we are in discussions with some very senior stakeholders in Government, Defence and Industry Primes are most likely to be presenting updates to the attendees.

Golf is not everyone's "cup of tea" however we have planned an ambrose competition, meaning you can happily play no matter your skill level. Ambrose is a team event where everyone has a go and then everyone walks together to the best ball played and plays on from there... lot's of fun for all!

Medway Golf Club is a premier course and the day ends with prizes and a BBQ dinner.

Venue: Medway Golf Club, 57 Omar Street, Maidstone VIC 3012
Date: Friday 26th March 2021

Advanced Manufacturing
Industry 4.0 Hub Commences
Webinars & Training in February

Transforming Manufacturing Through Digitalisation – Free Smart Manufacturing Webinars Advanced Apprenticeship Pilot will be delivered on Tuesday 9 February from 4 pm to 5 pm, link here

Business Model Innovation for Industry 4.0 will be delivered on Thursday 11 February from 8:30 am to 9:30 am, link here

Digital Twins in Manufacturing will be delivered on Tuesday 16 February from 12 pm to 1 pm, link here

Value Proposition Design will be delivered on Thursday 25 February from 8:30 am to 9:30 am, link here

futuremap® - Embedding Industry 4.0 in Manufacturing will be delivered on Friday 26 February from 8:30 am to 11 am, link here

Further Information: industry4hub@swin.edu.au

Funding and Announcements from Government & Defence

Applications are open for Army Robotics Exposition 2021 = closing 9th Feb, more here
Applications are now open for the 2021 Defence and Industry Study Course (DISC). DISC is a Department of Defence program managed by the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG). The course information and online application form can be found here. Applications are open now and close at 1700 hours (5pm) Friday 26 February 2021.
Business Events Grant Program - Assistance to attend industry events, more here
The Minister for Defence Industry releases the Terms of Reference for the review of the ASDEFCON suite of contracts.. See more here and here
Defence has released the Advanced Signals Processing and the Surveillance and Intelligence Sovereign Industry Capability Implementation and Industry Plans, more here
The Minister for Defence has released the Defence Transformation Strategy. See more here
Joint Strike Fighter Industry Support Program - Sustainment Grants open! See more here
New cyber security campaign launched by the Minister for Defence and Minister for Home Affairs, see more here and here
The Govt. has launched an Inquiry into Developing Australia’s Space Industry. If you would like to contribute thoughts and ideas please see more here
The CDIC is on track to complete its transfer to Defence in mid-December. Management of CDIC grants will remain with the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources which provides a whole of Commonwealth Government grant management service
Defence releases SIC Priority Implementation Plan for Aerospace Deeper Maintenance & Structural Integrity, more here & here
Victorian Govt. 'Small Business Digital Adaptation Program', update your business, more here
ASIO releases a new awareness campaign, 'Think Before You Link' (TBYL), more here
CDIC Grants Re-Open... 3 x Capability Improvement & Competitiveness Grants, more here
Government promotes Moon to Mars with more Grants, more here & here
2021 Budget Measures and Support for Defence Industry from Morrison Government, more here
Easing of grant funding rules, making funding opportunities more accessible to all, more here
Intelligence & National Security Threat Research Funding Grants = Open, more here
ASBAS - Funding to Get Professional Advice for updating your business, more here
Skilling Australia's Defence Industry (SADI) Grants "Open for Applications", more here
The New Budget - for defence industry here & also holistically for business and employment here

Industry Work Package Opportunities
Airbus calls for Industry Capability to support their Space Programs, more here
Hunter Class Frigate Program’s Innovation Program - Second Innovation Challenge, more here
Defence is seeking submission to develop an innovative ‘space qualified’ RF sensor payload. See more here and here
Naval Group - New Work Packages (some packages up to $900M), EOI portal here
Leidos calls for Industry participation in SEA 129 Phase 5 project, portal here
Northrop Grumman calls for EOI for their 'Space Systems Project', portal here
Hanwha opens the doors to Australian supply chain, more here, sign-up portal here
ASC P/L calls for industry to be part of submarine sustainment program, portal here
BAE Systems calls for industry participation for their Global Access Program, portal here

Other News

VDIA Op-Ed in Defence Connect. See more here.
The Commonwealth Government is encouraging space related businesses to apply for the second round of the Manufacturing Modernisation Fund grants. See more here.
Land Force has been confirmed for 1-3 June 2021
State and Territory Governments working closely with the Naval Shipbuilding College, more here
Latest CDIC news can be found here
Kinexus has provided an overview of the 2020 defence industry workforce market, more here

The Joint Strike Fighter Industry Support Program - Sustainment Grants

This grant program provides Australian businesses with funding to develop new or improved capabilities to win work in the sustainment phase of the Joint Strike Fighter Program.

The grant opportunity is to support Assigned-Product Support Providers (A-PSPs) to develop and implement their approved Depot Maintenance Activation Plan (DMAP). Through their plan they'll become a Qualified F-35 Component Depot Source of Repair (DSOR) for maintenance and repair activities for existing components used in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

Grants from $50,000 up to $250,000 are available to fund up to 50% of eligible project expenditure for phase 1 and 2. Phase 3 and 4 funding will be determined by the Department of Defence in accordance with the amount outlined in applicants supporting business cases.

The program details are available on the BGA website, including program guidelines with button below.

In the first of many local packages to be offered throughout the life of the 50-year program, these specialised pieces of equipment include the steering gear system, weapons handling system and main shaft line, and will support hundreds of Australian jobs.

Naval Group has officially launched its first ‘Local Manufacturing Package’ expression of interest (EOI) to Australian industry – part of a package expected to be worth almost $900 million, with the company also opening its office at Port Adelaide.

Army Robotics Exposition 2021 (ARX 2021)ARX 2021 will be held at the Brisbane Exhibition Centre on 20 April 2021 in conjunction with the Chief of Army Symposium 2021, which begins the day prior.

The ARX 2021 program will include: verbal presentations from the main stage, static displays and physical demonstrations of ground and air based robotic systems within a designated demonstration area. The event will be promoted through defence media channels and provides an excellent opportunity to build networks within Defence. The Deed of Participation terms (within these CFS Terms) will govern the Applicants’ participation at ARX 2021.

ARX 2021 is open to Defence personnel, Defence contractors, invited guests, Defence invited media. Invitations will be extended to the senior representatives from across technology and innovation groups within Defence.

There is no attendance entry fee for ARX 2021. Successful applicants will be required to self fund all travel, freight and demonstration costs of their technology for the purposes of ARX 2021 in line with the Deed of Participation.

Potential Applicants are encouraged NOT respond to this CFS if their robotic technology does not have the potential for Defence applications, or cannot be sufficiently communicated to Defence audiences through visualisations (electronic media) or practical demonstrations.

Similarly, large platforms requiring a footprint bigger than 6m x 6m area are restricted from attending the event.

An alternative for Potential Applications is to consider an innovation submission through the Defence Innovation Hub (DIH) portal as an unsolicited innovation proposal - Priority Innovation Notice at the following link: https://www.innovationhub.defence.gov.au/call-for-submissions/. Proposals submitted through this method at the DIH are less time constrained than time sensitive ARX 2021 submissions.