campusreview . com . au news
National security
Go8 unis call for defence collaboration .
By Tim Dodd
The Group of Eight universities have asked the federal government to back a new plan that will bring universities closer to the defence industry and the defence forces in an effort to boost Australian capability .
In its submission to the government ’ s defence strategic review , the Go8 says more “ connectivity ” is crucial .
It recommends that a pilot be started along the lines of the successful French CIFRE program , which uses talented students and university researchers who work with an industry partner in an area of defence need .
It aims to produce a fully researched solution for industry and also train students to be ready to work in an area of skills need .
“ A small Australian pilot , leveraging existing connections between our leading research universities and defence industry could be run at a modest cost split . If effective , the program could be scaled up ,” the submission says .
The Go8 , which represents Australia ’ s eight most research-intensive universities , says its members are ready to make a major contribution to defence preparedness .
“ The enormous defence-related research capacity in our universities has not really begun to be applied at scale in accelerating the discovery and fielding of new capability for our volunteer Australian Defence Force operators ,” the submission says .
It urges close co-operation between universities , the defence industry and government to accelerate basic research and translation into applications , followed by prototyping and scaling up to manufacture , to build Australia ’ s sovereign capability and the capabilities of allies in AUKUS , the Five Eyes and the Quad .
The submission also asks the government to consider partnering with the Go8 on new models for defence research , such as the Advanced Strategic Research Agency proposed by Anthony Albanese in a policy statement before the 2022 election .
“ It ( ASRA ) will be a premier avenue for linking Australian industry ( including SMEs ) and universities with our AUKUS partners ,” Albanese said then .
The submission also notes the defence capacity that Go8 universities already possess including the University of NSW ’ s Defence Research Institute , the University of Adelaide ’ s Defence Science Institute , and many other research capabilities
Enormous defencerelated research capacity in our universities has not really begun .
including aerospace , autonomous systems , cybersecurity , hypersonics , artificial intelligence , photonics and sensing , quantum , radar and signal processing .
It says the recently announced defence “ trailblazer ” program , involving UNSW , the University of Adelaide and 52 defence industry partners , is an exemplar of the approach required .
The submission also points out that the Go8 universities have key infrastructure and facilities for defence research as well as established relationships with defence industries .
It says the research ties Go8 universities have with universities in the US and UK can be harnessed for technology sharing envisaged under the AUKUS agreement in advanced technology areas such as nuclear , cyber , artificial intelligence , hypersonics , electronic warfare and space .
“ Australia could leverage these partnerships to support development in areas of specialist need ,” the Go8 says . ■
5