An indicative time line of the Capability Technology Demonstrator process.

Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) will begin seeking applicants for the 2008/2009 Capability Technology Demonstrator (CTD) Program this month.

The CTD program aims to provide industry with the opportunity to demonstrate how advanced technologies they are developing can provide significant enhancement in priority Defence capability areas.

Defence’s Capability Development Executive (CDE) annually produces guidance on these priority areas in the form of a list of key capability requirements that companies seeking to participate in the CTD program might choose to deliver.

DSTO CTD Project Manager Andrew Arnold said this guidance is relatively loose. It is there to provide an idea of the sorts of areas of interest.

‘I have always maintained that we don’t put this down as a mandatory thing because the program is about technology and innovation. If companies have ideas outside of the suggested space (areas of interest highlighted by CDE) they are free to propose,’ he said.

‘Quite honestly, every year about one-third of the proposals we receive are outside of the capability space identified,’ Mr Arnold said.

The program’s participants are selected on the merit of their proposal. Once the CTD program office receives the proposals they present them to Australian Defence Organisation stakeholders, predominantly from CDE for consideration.

The stakeholders will look over the proposal to see if it aligns with an area of interest, fits with their capability plans, or supports where the services see themselves going.

Mr Arnold advised that companies interested in nominating to participate should contact the CTD Project Office early on in the process of putting together their proposal.

‘The CTD management team will provide them with points of contact among the stakeholder groups which might be interested in their proposed technology,’ he said.

‘Many companies hit us cold with their proposals, rather than liaising in advance. This does not do them any favours because key Defence stakeholders will not be aware of their proposed technologies, or the proposals will often be written in language (technical jargon) that is different to that used in the Department. Where as, if they get in touch with us early they are more likely to be able to tailor their proposal to suit the stakeholder,’ Mr Arnold said.

‘There are certain process elements of the proposal that we can help them with if they come to us,’ he said.

The Government has budgeted $26 million for the 2008/2009 CTD Program. Mr Arnold said that the quality of proposals will drive this figure. ‘We won’t spend the full $26 million if the proposals don’t warrant doing so,’ he said.

An advertisement seeking proposals will run in the tenders section of The Australian newspaper in April. Applicants will have three months to deliver their proposals to DSTO’s CTD Program Office before nominations close in late July.

For further information contact:
Phone: (02) 6265 7927 or (02) 6265 7903
Email ctd@defence.gov.au
URL: www.dsto.defence.gov.au/collaboration/3743/