The Victorian Government on the 5th of October, has issued $1.36 million in funding to local defence SMEs via its Smart Enough Factory program, aimed at supporting the modernisation of design and manufacturing processes.
The funds, delivered by DMTC Limited (formerly the Defence Materials Technology Centre), are expected to facilitate investment in digital technologies, in a bid to reduce costs, skill shortages or security vulnerabilities — supporting entry into defence supply chains.
The Smart Enough Factory pilot program has commenced with Victorian small businesses Australian Precision Technologies, APV Corporation, A.W. Bell, Heat Treatment Australia and Ronson Gears.
The full-scale program is scheduled to launch later this year for an initial period of three years.
To make sure the damage from COVID is minimised there are two messages from the Government:
If the latest lockdown is having an impact on your ability to deliver on defence related contracts you should contact Defence’s COVID-19 Task Force Industry Support Cell on covid19.isc@defence.gov.au
Updates from Government & Defence regarding their programs and Industry
Collated weekly tenders
Networking
Face-to-Face networking events
Live webinars on relevant Defence Industry topics
Support
Reach out if you have a challenge you can't navigate
Reach out if you're stuck and need some further information
Advocacy
Defence and Government can only make changes based on feedback... if there are issues - we need to know about them = from you
Announcements
ADA-Vic Networking and Golf Day
10th December 2021
The ADA-Vic Networking and Golf Day is scheduled for the Friday, 10th of December 2021, at Medway Golf Club, Maidstone, VIC.
This event will consist of a morning session of networking and industry briefings, set amongst an amazing backdrop with morning tea and lunch.For the golfers there will be a golf competition in the afternoon and then a dinner and further networking session in the evening.
This will be an enjoyable and informative day with the opportunity to meet others in Defence
Thales Looking to
Partner with an Australian Company for SEA 1905 Programme
Thales UWS is seeking to gain a detailed understanding of Australian industry for organisations with the design and technical capability to manufacture, integrate and supply the ‘Portable Operations Centre’ system outlined in this Expression of Interest (EOI). Note Thales is looking for an organisation to partner with who can provide a turn-key solution. This opportunity offers the successful organisation the potential to partner with Thales in Australia for the SEA1905 Programme and global defence programmes through the Thales Global Supply
Chain.
Defence will review the Global Supply Chain Program. See more here and the Terms of Reference can be found 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.
Funding boost for national security research. Read more.
Family-owned engineering firm to provide next-gen rough terrain vehicle for ADF. Read more.
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 will be presented in Canberra, 3rd November 2021. View finalists 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.
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 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.
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 Shortlist for Phase 3 completed = 12th November 2021
Phase 3 Commencement = 15th November 2021
Phase 3 completion and demonstration = 20th May 2022
