$1.19 million invested into Western Australian defence research

  • Eight defence researchers will share in $1.19 million worth of grants
  • Part of the WA Government’s annual Collaborative Research Grant program and the Defence and Research Teaming initiative
  • The programs support cross-disciplinary collaboration between Western Australian researchers and industry to address Defence’s science and technology priorities
  • McGowan Government is investing in the future of defence research and innovation
  • The State Government has awarded eight grants worth $1.19 million to Western Australian defence researchers as part of the annual Collaborative Research Grant (CRG) program.

    The eight successful projects cover a broad range of fields of study, including maritime surveillance, modelling for tracking misinformation, and diver communication systems.

    The 2022 round of the CRG program received its highest ever number of grant applications, with 29 research programs applying for up to $150,000 of financial assistance each.

    One successful grant recipient, Dr Mitali Sakar-Tyson and her project ‘Preclinical testing of novel compounds against multi-drug resistant bacteria of biological warfare concern’, was originally awarded $150,000 by DSC in 2019.

    The initial grant assisted Dr Sakar-Tyson to implement her research outcomes with the Defence Materials Technology Centre where she is now developing new drugs to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

    Since the program started in 2019, over $3.35 million has been provided to help support 24 defence research projects in WA and generated an additional 14.8 full time equivalent research positions.

    By diversifying research and development efforts across defence-relevant technology areas, the CRG aims to increase the impact of research outputs and improving industry and academic linkages.

    The CRG is one of the collaboration initiatives of the WA Defence Science Centre which seeks to support the Defence Science and Technology Strategy ‘More together 2030’, by leveraging State-based defence research networks and encourage multi-partner collaboration. The CRG funding is co-contributed by Defence through the Next Generation Technologies Fund.

    The Defence Science Centre’s CRG program supports the strategic goals of the State Government’s Western Australian Defence and Defence Industries Strategic Plan, which aims to grow the local defence sector and create jobs.

    The full list of research supported by the Defence Science Centre can be found at wa.gov.au: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-jobs-tourism-science-and-innovation/defence-science-centre-case-studies-and-success-stories

    As stated by Defence Industry Minister Paul Papalia:

    “Western Australian university and research organisations are paving the way for the next generation of defence technology.

    “The State Government is committed to supporting these cutting-edge research programs, and ultimately contributing to Australia’s sovereign defence capability.

    “Through the CRG, we are strengthening WA’s defence industry capabilities, commercialising emerging technologies and supporting the diversification of the State’s economy.”

    /Public Release. View in full here.