Chief Defence Scientist, Dr Roger Lough, briefs Defence Watch attendees on the ways in which DSTO is collaborating with industry and the science community to enhance ADF capability.

The Defence and Science Technology Organisation (DSTO) is the Australian Government’s lead agency charged with applying science and technology to protect and defend Australia and its national interests. DSTO is a unique organisation in the Asia-Pacific region, delivering expert, impartial advice and innovative solutions for Defence and other elements of national security.

In 2007 DSTO is celebrating 100 years of Defence science and technology. Over the past century the business of Defence has become increasingly reliant on new and emerging technologies. DSTO is the Australian Defence Force’s technology partner, helping to deliver capabilities that are crucial to the defence of Australia and its national interests.

A call for proposals to set up a Defence Future Capability Technology Centre (DFCTC) in 2008 will be made later this month according to the Chief Defence Scientist, Dr Roger Lough.

“The Defence Future Capability Technology Centre is one of the exciting innovations to come out of the Defence Industry Policy released earlier this year,” Dr Lough said.

He said the centre will utilise many of the characteristics of the broader Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Programme administered by the Department of Education, Science and Training.

“While modelled on the successful CRC concept, the DFCTC will be targeted at developing a specific future defence capability,” Dr Lough said.

The centre will facilitate collaboration between publicly funded research organisations, leading Australian universities and Defence Industry.

“This exciting initiative is a partnership between Defence, DMO and DEST. As part of Defence’s commitment to nurturing small-to-medium enterprises, we want to ensure all Australian companies have the opportunity to participate in the DFCTC and are building this into the participation guidelines,” said Dr Lough.

There are also opportunities through the Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) Program for DSTO to engage with industry and academics. The CTD program has 39 projects on the go at present, all of which are developing technologies for application by Defence on a number of projects in the Defence Capability Plan.

One of the important roles for Dr Lough is for DSTO to help industry help Defence. He sees this as being done through a number of ways including identifying and engaging new technology SMEs and help them come into the Defence fold, engaging with industries with a substantive research and development program, and engage with industry at the pre competitive stage, before initiatives go to first pass as opportunities are much more flexible then.

Dr Lough says the key areas of focus for Defence science and technology over the coming decades include providing industry and other stakeholders with a valuable insight into near-future Defence capability challenges.

To find out more about the opportunities within DSTO, the CTD Program or DFCTC, go to http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/ for more information.