Other tech

Steve Baxter’s new defence-focused VC fund locks and loads $10 million in first close on $60m target

- February 6, 2025 2 MIN READ

Brisbane-based specialist defence technology venture capital firm, Beaten Zone Venture Partners, has secured more than $10 million in commitments, to call first close on the fund. The figure takes the fund to its final condition for ESVCLP (Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships) status, with its first capital call underway this week.   Founder and… Read more »

Michael Biercuk
Funding

Q-CRTL scores $2.3 million in $60m federal government plan to back quantum in defence

- November 20, 2024 2 MIN READ

Sydney quantum computing software startup Q-CTRL has been awarded $2.75 million contract by the federal government as part of a plan to deliver the defence sector additional capabilities in quantum and counter disinformation technologies. The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator’s (ASCA) Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) program has signed 21 contracts as part of an investment… Read more »

Mark Zuckerberg
AI/Machine Learning

Meta ignores its own policy to let the military use its AI platform, Llama

- November 12, 2024 4 MIN READ

Meta will make its generative artificial intelligence (AI) models available to the United States’ government, the tech giant has announced, in a controversial move that raises a moral dilemma for everyone who uses the software. Meta last week revealed it would make the models, known as Llama, available to government agencies, “including those that are… Read more »

Satellite Orbiting Earth
Politics

The Australian government has killed off a $7 billion military satellite project, increasing the risk of cyber attacks

- November 6, 2024 3 MIN READ

In a significant blow to Australia’s defence capabilities, the federal government is cancelling what would have been the nation’s largest-ever space project: a $7 billion military satellite communications system. The decision was confirmed in a press statement on Monday. It comes just 18 months after the Albanese government gave the green light to the ambitious… Read more »

Quantum Computing

Quantum clock maker QuantXLabs strikes 12 with $2.7 million defence deal

- September 13, 2024 2 MIN READ

Quantum sensors startup QuantX Labs has bagged a $2.7 million deal with the Australian government for optical atomic clocks for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Two contracts will enable partners in the defence pact AUKUS between Australia, the US and UK, to develop position navigation and timing (PNT) capabilities in precision navigation and timing in… Read more »

Wayne Prender
People

Deep tech scaleup Advanced Navigation deepens US military ties with new global head of defence

- September 4, 2024 2 MIN READ

Autonomous navigation scaleup Advanced Navigation has new US-based Global Head of Defence, recruiting former US Army platoon leader and intelligence officer Wayne Prender to the role. The 12-year-old deep tech hardware venture, chaired by former PM Malcolm Turnbull, with legendary US Army general David Petraeus chairing its defence advisory board, is a world leader in… Read more »

Cloud representation
Global tech

Why Amazon is building a ‘top secret’ $2 billion cloud for Australia’s military intelligence

- July 8, 2024 3 MIN READ

Amazon has secured a A$2 billion contract with the Australian Signals Directorate – the agency responsible for foreign signals intelligence and information security. A local subsidiary of Amazon Web Services will build a Top Secret Cloud to provide secure data storage for military intelligence. The deal will securely manage top secret data vital to Australia’s… Read more »

Richard Marles
Global tech

AWS signs $2 billion ‘top secret’ cloud deal for defence with the Australian government

- July 5, 2024 2 MIN READ

Amazon Web Services will build a bespoke cloud environment to handle top secret Defence and intelligence data as part of a $2 billion deal with the federal government. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles announced the partnership between the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) on Thursday morning. The… Read more »

Lance Bombardier Jarrod Logan, launches a Wasp unmanned aerial system
Politics

Australia is pouring $3.4 billion into a defence capabilities accelerator

- May 1, 2023 2 MIN READ

The federal government has earmarked $3.4 billion over the next decade for an Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) to develop advanced military technologies. The proposal is part of the Defence Strategic Review released last week, which recommends spending $19 billion over the next four years amid more effective support for innovation, faster acquisition and better… Read more »

A Fleet Space Centauri 4 nanosatellite
Space

Satellite startup Fleet lands $6.4 million defence contract

- April 20, 2023 2 MIN READ

Adelaide satellite tech startup Fleet Space Technologies has bagged its first contract in the lucrative defence sector, signing a $6.4 million contract with Australia’s Defence Space Command. The agreement will see Fleet’s next-generation of Centauri satellites used to develop and demonstrate a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications system focused on tactical communications and data… Read more »

Other tech

Canberra defence contractor AeroPM sets up shop in Adelaide’s Lot 14

- June 28, 2022 2 MIN READ

AeroPM, an Australian professional services consultancy firm, specialisies in supporting the Australian Department of Defence to acquire complex and significant sovereign capabilities. The company, based in Canberra, was attracted to Lot Fourteen to work within a district of like-minded talented professionals in the defence and space industry. AeroPM’s Chief Executive Officer, Emily Frizell, said the… Read more »

Space

Adelaide nano-satellite startup Myriota lands $5.5 million government defence contract

- September 29, 2021 2 MIN READ

Internet of Things (IoT) satellite company Myriota has landed a $5.48 million contract from the Australian government for Defence tracking communications. Myriota will use its network of nano-satellites to retrieve data from sensors across hundreds of Defence platforms, forming a global, space-enabled communications network. The network, dubbed the ‘Internet of Military Things’, could deliver increased… Read more »

Alex Scandurra - Stone & Chalk
Topic

Fintech hub Stone & Chalk is opening in Adelaide

- June 25, 2019 2 MIN READ

Stone & Chalk CEO Alex Scandurra  Fintech innovation hub Stone & Chalk is setting up shop in Adelaide in partnership with the South Australian Government Stone & Chalk will be the anchor tenant and startup hub operator at Lot Fourteen, the massive and ambitious innovation precinct on the seven-hectare former Royal Adelaide Hospital site. With… Read more »