Assistant Minister for Education, Anthony Chisholm will launch a new $240 million Trailblazer Universities project in Adelaide today, which will generate innovative defence solutions and create thousands of new jobs.
Assistant Minister Chisholm said the Defence Trailblazer: Concept to Sovereign Capability project at the University of Adelaide and University of New South Wales (UNSW) will herald in a new era of innovation for the country's defence industry.
"The Albanese Government is committed to supporting collaborative initiatives that produce innovative solutions to bolster our national security, create more employment opportunities and grow the economy," Assistant Minister Chisholm said.
"This project will focus on key areas such as defensive hypersonics, cyber technologies, robotics and AI, as well as defence space technologies, where Australian university research is well-placed to strengthen our nation's security.
"This research will directly contribute to an evolving defence sector in which technologies will be developed by Australians and commercialised through local companies and international partnerships."
Assistant Minister Chisholm said the project was estimated to deliver $1.5 billion in terms of net economic benefit for the Australian economy over the next 10 years.
"It's estimated the Defence Trailblazer project will develop 100 new products, directly create more than 1,000 jobs and another 1,400 additional jobs throughout the wider defence industry," Assistant Minister Chisholm said.
The project's Industry Research Program will also offer students the chance to study research degrees through the University of Adelaide and University of New South Wales. This will improve the acceleration of ideas into commercial application, while giving students the opportunity to work directly with industry partners.
These partners, who include Boeing Defence Australia, CAE Australia and Cisco, will contribute more than $140 million to the project over the next four years. This is on top of the Australian Government's $50 million commitment through the Trailblazer program, as well as the University of Adelaide and UNSW's contribution of a further $50 million.
