- Defence Science Centre awards six grants in 2025-2026 totalling $1.1 millionto Western Australian university researchers
- Collaborative Research Grant supports innovative Defence-focused research supporting collaboration between Defence, academia and industry
- Funding is a co-contribution between the WA and Commonwealth Governments
- Cook Labor Government committed to diversifying the economy and creating quality jobs
The Collaborative Research Grant (CRG) from the Defence Science Centre (DSC) will fund projects such as advanced shore-to-ship laser communications, autonomous sea ambulances and enhanced electro-magnetic shielding.
A project led by Edith Cowan University (ECU) is working on making critical satellite links stronger and more reliable.
Using intelligent algorithms and adaptive frequency hopping, it is able to keep connections stable, even when conditions change.
This means links are less likely to fail and can recover more quickly if they do, whether the cause is space weather, heavy network traffic or a deliberate attack.
Selected from a competitive pool of 16 grant applications, the successful projects demonstrate the growing breadth of capability and innovation emerging from Western Australia’s research community.
Applicants could apply for up to $200,000 in funding, with projects assessed against criteria for collaboration, feasibility and impact.
The CRG is a key initiative of Defence West’s DSC, strengthening collaboration between Defence, academia and industry in WA to provide innovative solutions for Defence and national security.
Since its launch in 2019, more than $6 million has been awarded through the grant program.
The CRG is co-funded through the WA Government and Australian Government’s Defence Science and Technology Group.
The full list of research supported by the DSC is available at: WA.gov.au | Defence Science Centre funded research
As stated by Defence Industries Minister David Michael:
“The Collaborative Research Grant continues to play a vital role in supporting early-stage research to grow and mature into innovative concepts developed by Western Australians.
“This year’s successful projects highlight just how much innovation is emerging from our State. The Collaborative Research Grant helps accelerate ideas that have the potential to transform Defence capability.
“These grants are made possible through funding administered via the Defence Science Centre, an initiative co-funded by the State of Western Australia and the Commonwealth Government.”
