“Innovation is taking two things that exist and putting them together in a new way.“
Tom Freston (born 1945), Co-founder of MTV
Innovation was the theme for November for the QDSA team. Our tasks and engagement took us to venues and events that consistently enlightened and delighted us!
As we work to connect industry, research institutes and businesses, we realised that Tom Freston’s quote (above) is particularly relevant. QDSA fosters innovation by connecting “two things that exist” and putting them together in a new way every day!
Here is what November had to offer for our team:
7th Brigade Innovation Board
QDSA Associate Director Dr Jeremy Anderson was invited to sit on the 7th Brigade Innovation Board to evaluate pitches from the soldiers. These activities encourage soldiers to propose innovative solutions to possible issues they have identified during their work in the field. QDSA looks forward to supporting these activities further in 2022.
OCE STaR Shot Deep Dive Workshop
During a session of over 5 ½ hours, the OCE STaR Shot leader and technical lead heard presentations from 8 shortlisted Queensland universities and SMEs. The session was followed by a Q & A and provided valuable and insightful information for all in attendance.
Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Site Visit
On 5th November, the QDSA team visited Griffith University Nathan Campus.
We enjoyed a comprehensive tour of the site. We also had the opportunity to hear from experts showcasing the unique strengths that Griffith University has in AI, quantum, micro and nanotechnology and drug discovery.
During our visit, we toured:
– Institute for Integrated and Intelligence Systems
– Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Centre
– Griffith Research Institute for Drug Discovery
We were excited to learn that the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery (GRIDD) has become the new home for a uniquely curated library of 329,000 chemical compounds in Australia to advance drug research!
In agreement with the Australian Lead Identification Consortium (ALIDC), the Australian Drug Discovery Library (ADDL) will be relocated from Scotland to Brisbane’s GRIDD Compounds Australia facility.
AIDN Qld Annual Gala Dinner
On 10th November, the QDSA team attended the 2021 QLD Australian Industry & Defence Network Qld Annual Gala Dinner. AIDN is the premier Australian industry association representing Defence Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and now represents over 800 member companies in Australia.
During the dinner, we witnessed many 2021 award winners who were recognised for their amazing contributions to technology and innovation throughout the year. This included the Qld AIDN annual National Young Achiever Award.
QDSA would like to congratulate all of the 2021 Queensland award winners and thank the AIDN for hosting a spectacular event!
Elexon Electronics Site Visit – Brendale, Queensland.
On 12th November, the QDSA team visited the 100% Australian owned advanced manufacturing company, Elexon Electronics. The company has positioned itself at the forefront of innovation and sovereign capability in Australia and has recently been the recipient of several nationally recognised awards and funding grants. Read our behind-the-scenes review of the visit here.
AI Hub Visit
Associate Director Dr Jeremy Anderson and Alliance and Research Manager Mark Witham visited the Queensland AI Hub in mid-November. The visit enabled the AI Hub to showcase the capabilities of the AI industry and the talent of the Hub members to the QDSA team.
QDSA is encouraged to see the coming together of such talented minds, and we are excited to witness the potential future opportunities available to them.
AICraft CEO Meeting
Mid-November provided the opportunity for QDSA Associate Director Jeremy Anderson to meet with the CEO of AICraft, Dr Tony Scoleri, based in South Australia.
AICraft has a long history of working with academia and are proficient in rapidly transitioning technology to commercial readiness, guaranteeing cutting-edge technology refresh. The company specialises in tailored artificial intelligence (AI) models and embedded systems for edge computing.
These types of meetings are essential for building connections and discussing potential opportunities for engagement in Queensland industry and Defence.
QCIF Meeting
Our busy November was filled with meetings with industry professionals and enterprise. QDSA was invited to meet with the Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation (QCIF) who provide high-performance services, infrastructure and support to achieve excellence in computation and data-driven collaborative research.
The meeting allowed us to discuss future collaborative opportunities, and we look forward to furthering discussions in 2022.
Black Sky Aerospace Visit
Following the successful launch of its first rocket to be launched, designed, built and powered on Australian soil in over 40 years, representatives from QDSA and Griffith University met with Blake Nikolic, CEO, Black Sky Aerospace, to learn more about Black Sky Aerospace’ sovereign capability.
The company is focused on advancing Australia’s space industry with government support and hopes to play a pivotal role in boosting space capability in Australia.
QDSA and AMC Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Information and Networking Event
In collaboration with the Australian Missile Corporation, QDSA hosted an in-person and online networking event that featured guest speakers from across the globe. This pivotal event in our 2021 calendar provided much insight and opportunity to all who attended. An in-depth recap of the event will be published in the coming weeks.
Townsville Visit
Late November saw the QDSA team travel to Townsville in North Queensland to engage in several events.
First on the list was the Defence Industry Breakfast hosted by Defence Industry Hub. The breakfast was attended by approximately 300 people and was a great way for QDSA to start our journey further exploring North Queensland capabilities.
Following the breakfast, the team visited James Cook University to meet with our Defence Collaboration Coordinator David Lynch to discuss the QDSA December 2021 North Queensland Tour details.
Before heading back to Brisbane, QDSA facilitated the Defence Collaboration Coordinators meeting in Townsville, which featured guest speakers from Defence AI Research Network, UQ Cyber, and DSTG who discussed the call for C2 Sociotechnical Experimentation Collaboration EOI.
QUT Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove Site Visits
Alongside Defence Jobs Queensland and the Department of Environment and Science, QDSA were given a tour of the Queensland University of Technology campuses at Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove.
During the visits, we experienced and learned from experts about their research facilities specialising in space robotics, vision processing, performance patch, cognitive gut project, DNA sequencing, superconductors, autonomous vehicles and corrosion protection.
We also learned of the important project underway at the Gardens Point campus to assist the families of targeted missing Australian service members in helping establish a DNA Biobank to aid in identifying their recovered remains.
The project has been developed in collaboration with Defence and funded by the Department of Defence Innovation Hub for $2.2 million.
Air Commodore Michael Gray Visit
The last day in November provided the opportunity to discuss collaboration with Air Force and DSTG when Air Commodore Michael Gray visited the QDSA office to meet with the team.
QDSA Upcoming Events and Opportunities
QDSA has many upcoming events and opportunities, with more being added each week. Want to find out what is on the horizon? Check out our News section on our website here or subscribe to our e-newsletter here.
For real-time events and information, be sure to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
The Queensland Defence Science Alliance (QDSA) is a university-led initiative to grow and connect an agile Defence innovation ecosystem, leveraging Queensland’s strengths, to deliver trusted solutions to meet Defence requirements.