Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne has announced the Government’s 2018-19 investment priorities for the Defence Innovation Hub.

Minister Pyne said the Government would invest $1.6 billion in defence industry and innovation over the next decade, including $640 million to support the development of innovative technologies through the Defence Innovation Hub.

“The Government’s approach to innovation in Defence is driven by its Defence Strategy, ensuring innovation investment is linked to our capability priorities,” he said.

“The Defence Innovation Hub has made significant progress since its launch in December 2016, receiving over 510 proposals and signing 59 innovation contracts with a combined value of more than $77.9 million,” he added. “Around 85 per cent of the proposals align to the top three investment priorities I first announced at the 2016 Land Forces conference.

“Transparency and clarity on innovation investment priorities provides greater certainty to industry, and allows industry and research organisations to plan their research and development investments.”

Investment priorities are reviewed on an annual basis, and the Defence Innovation Hub is seeking proposals aligned with the six capability streams identified in the 2016 Defence Integrated Investment Program: intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, space and cyber; key enablers; land combat, amphibious warfare and special operations; air and sea lift; maritime and anti-submarine warfare; and strike and air combat.

Within these six capability streams, the top three priorities for investment in the 2018-19 financial year in priority order are: Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Electronic Warfare, Space and Cyber; Key Enablers; and Land Combat, Amphibious Warfare and Special Operations.

The latest priorities are a continuation from the previous financial year which focused on ISREW enabling Joint Decision Support, Cyber and Joint Integration Effects and the addition of Social Media Exploitation, Automated Dynamic Use of Spectrum Monitoring and Switching, Proximity Electronic Support/Electronic Attack (including development of EW Open Architectures) and Artificial Intelligence.