11 Australian businesses have received a total of nearly $5 million through the Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority Grants program, which supports eligible Australian SMEs who can provide significant contributions to Defence industry needs.
“These successful grant recipients are being supported to deliver a number of quality projects that will enhance Australian defence industry’s sovereign capabilities, aligned with Defence’s Sovereign Industrial Capability Priorities,” Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said.
“Queensland-based Cyborg Dynamics Engineering is developing a robotic unmanned ground vehicle. Their grant funding will be used to fund the project’s design, materials, equipment and testing.
“Another recipient, NSW-based company Rojone, is establishing a fibre optic cable assembly capability, connecting vital systems to ensure ADF personnel have access to the information they require to perform their duties.”
Minister Price said the Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority grants program is a key Government initiative providing support and funding to eligible Australian businesses. The funding will help them to build their capacity and resilience, which is then supporting Defence’s most critical capabilities.
Eligible activities funded through the program relate directly to buying, constructing, installing or commissioning capital equipment, including associated training for their workforce.
Grant applications can be made at any time and can be submitted through the Centre for Defence Industry Capability website, available here.
The full list of Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority Grants announced is as follows:
- Frontline Manufacturing - $710,000. Grant funding will be used to purchase a specialised brake press for manufacturing metal plate used on armoured fighting vehicles.
- SRC Australia - $311,384. Grant funding will be used to fund the purchase and installation of specialist hardware that will enable the facility to support warfighting functions.
- Infinite Engineering - $1,000,000. Grant funding will be used to purchase capital equipment that will increase scale of manufacturing capacity and capability.
- Cyborg Dynamics Engineering - $426,150. Grant funding will be used to fund project design, materials, equipment and testing.
- Jehbco Manufacturing - $123,654. Grant funding will be used to fund the purchase and installation of new capital equipment. This will expand production capabilities.
- Aero Spec Engineering - $399,077. Grant funding will be used to fund the purchase and installation of manufacturing equipment, building modifications, staff training and accreditation.
- RUAG Australia - $1,000,000. Grant funding will be used to modernise and automate critical equipment.
- The Smart Think Australia - $207,291. Grant funding will be used to purchase and install new capital equipment that will increase productivity, and broaden the range of products available.
- Aquaterro Advanced Product Supplies - $372,317. Grant funding will be used to expand storage requirements for weapons and ammunition, in line with Defence specifications.
- Simbiant - $278,475. Grant funding will be used to design and commission a software-defined radar advanced signal processing facility.
- Rojone - $129,950. Grant funding will be used to purchase capital equipment and undertake technical training. This will enable the production of military grade cable assemblies within Australia.