Adelaide scores $230m defence innovation centre

The federal government will spend $230 million over 10 years to build a new Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC), which will be headquartered in Adelaide.

The CDIC will be designed to allow Defence, the private sector and AusIndustry to work together to develop cutting-edge capabilities for the armed forces.

It will work with small-to-medium enterprises across the country to promote defence industry competitiveness. The CDIC will also offer a range of advisory services, including gaining access to the defence market, effectively competing in export markets and global supply chain development.

As well as the Adelaide headquarters, the centre will employ a network of advisors in locations across Australia, with a concentration of defence industry contractors.

The project is a key initiative of the government’s 2016 Defence White Paper.

Speaking at a visit to Fugro LADS Corporation, a developer of lidar-based seabed mapping technology for the naval sector, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the Australian defence industries are at the cutting edge of innovation.

“We have an enormous budget for Defence and we need it to keep our country secure. But we want to make sure that as far as we can, every dollar possible is spent here in Australia,” he said.

“As far as possible, every technology, every innovation that we can draw from the genius of the Australian people is put to work for our defence, because we know that not only will that make us stronger and more secure but it will also build on the jobs and the export potential in the future.”

Image courtesy of BenFrantzDale under CC