BAE Systems Australia has selected the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia as foundation partners for a nationwide initiative that it says will drive research, development and innovation in technologies that will help the Australian Defence Force maintain superior capability.
The company stated that it will contribute up to $10 million over the next 10 years to establish the Joint Open Innovation Network to support new university engineering scholarships, and internship and undergraduate industry placements. The initiative will also involve the creation of new defence-focused courses, and targeted research and development.
Starting in 2017, the innovation network will focus on activities to support the upgrade of the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN), and the development of future JORN and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
BAE Systems and the universities will jointly develop a laboratory that will allow industry and academia to work together to advance existing defence technologies.
The company stated that it will support participants to fast-track new technologies and products developed through the program to export markets through its global supply chain.