Defence Science Centre builds innovative connections

The WA government’s plan to double Defence’s annual contribution to the economy drove to the foundation of the Defence Science Centre, which aims to exploit the technology base that underpins the state’s civil industry sectors.

Defence Science Centre director Michele Clement, second left, with some of the many talented staff at the DSC in Perth

Western Australia’s technology base has been shaped by the industries driving the state’s economy — mining, offshore oil and gas and exploration. Those sectors are global leaders in the adoption of robotics, autonomous systems, remote operations and advanced materials.

Coincidentally, these and other related technologies are exactly what Defence is looking for as its warfighters grapple with new operational challenges.

Hence the Defence Science Centre (DSC), which was established as part of the WA Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation in mid-2019.

“The foundations of a successful industry and economy are anchored in sustained investment in science, technology, innovation and the associated development of a knowledgeable society and skills workforce,” says Michele Clement, director of the Defence Science Centre.

The WA government’s own strategic plan to double Defence’s annual contribution to the WA economy drove the foundation of the DSC, which has an understandable bias towards maritime technology.

It aims to exploit the technology base that underpins the state’s leading civil industry sectors: artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, robotics, undersea and surface sensors, mine detection, remote operations, communications technology, advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity. And if a new technology venture gets off the ground at Henderson, this will further sharpen WA’s R&D focus on defence at sea.

The DSC is funded jointly by the state government and DSTG and its purpose, Clement says, is to help build science and innovation connections across WA’s publicly funded universities, industry and Defence. The DSC is a node in DSTG’s Australian Defence Science and University Network (ADSUN).

This is Defence’s mechanism for reaching out to all of ­Australia’s publicly funded ­universities for smart ideas and additional R&D capacity, with links to SMEs that will help ­develop and commercialise new IP and eventually turn this into products that can be used by the warfighter.

ADSUN provides Defence with the best R&D capabilities in Australia, Clement says, and enables university researchers to apply their research to real-world problems. The DSC funds R&D projects that align with the goals of DSTG’s own STaRShot (Science Technology and Research) priorities that were announced last year as part of the Defence Science Strategy.

It illustrates how small investments can deliver a significant benefit. It runs three separate grant programs targeted at different priorities, Clement says: “Since its inception, the DSC has supported 24 defence-relevant R&D projects valued (collectively) at almost $4m. (These) align with Defence’s Science and Technology STaR Shots strategy … and bring together multiple organisations in designing programs and partnerships to deliver capabilities into the hands of the warfighter,” she told The Australian.

The DSC has also facilitated and promoted DSTG’s own grant program initiatives, including the recent Artificial Intelligence for Decision Making (AIDM) Initiative, the ICERA Program and the ORnet Program.

One of the member universities has increased its grant funding from Defence by 90 per cent since DSC was established.

However, one of the most important things it does is to connect people, Clement says — university to university, university to Defence, university to industry (and vice versa) and industry to Defence.

Equally important, the DSC has connected WA researchers with overseas R&D leaders, including the US Department of Defense, DARPA and the US Office of Naval Research, connections they probably couldn’t have made on their own.

Building on WA’s strengths in maritime technology, the DSC has begun a feasibility study into a future research centre, tentatively named the Maritime and Advanced Technologies Collaboration Hub (MATCH), at the Australian Marine Complex’s Technology Precinct in Henderson, south of Fremantle.

This will address Defence-relevant maritime technologies that are transferable to other sectors, and will support delivery into Defence’s Remote Undersea Surveillance and Battle Ready Platforms STaR Shots.

Defence’s 2020 Defence Strategic Update and Force Structure Plan outlined an investment of $3-$4.5bn in integrated undersea surveillance systems, and $3.3-5bn in mine countermeasures and hydrographic vessels.

The MATCH will target the development of technologies behind these investments, Clement says.

Smart WA SMEs such as BlueZone Group, which works with the DSC, are already eyeing opportunities in these projects and the DSC is the hub where they can link with subject matter experts in universities and other companies to strengthen their bids.