Joint Media Release:
- Senator for Victoria, Senator James Paterson
The Morrison Government has awarded a Victorian company a $5.4 million contract to develop an innovative, deployable micro-grid that will help address an increase in the demand for power in the modern battlefield.
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price welcomed the Government’s investment in QinetiQ, which has partnered with the University of Melbourne to develop its unique technology.
The contract was awarded through the Defence Innovation Hub, one of the Government’s leading innovation programs.
“Investing in innovative ideas generated by Australian companies and research organisations shows the Morrison Government’s commitment to building a sustainable and globally competitive sovereign defence industry,” Minister Price said.
“At the same time we are developing cutting-edge capability for the Australian Defence Force.”
Using advanced energy management algorithms, QinetiQ’s technology will offer a power efficient, responsive and deployable micro-grid that will help ensure the ADF has access to power on the battlefield.
“This technology, developed through the investment of the Morrison Government, has the potential to provide a globally deployable power solution, with applications beyond Defence,” Minister Price said.
“The Government recognises the ingenuity within Australia’s innovation sector and is delighted to partner with organisations that can bring these ideas into reality.”
Liberal Senator for Victoria James Paterson said this was an important investment to help build Australia’s sovereign defence capabilities.
“Australia is at the centre of a dynamic and changing region characterised by rising powers, strategic competition and military modernisation,” Senator Paterson said.
“This investment will deliver advanced and integrated solutions to emerging threats and challenges in our region, including the ‘grey-zone’ tactics of espionage, cyber-attacks and disinformation campaigns.”
Industry and research organisations can submit innovation proposals through the Defence Innovation Portal at: www.innovationhub.defence.gov.au.
