Ledger.

Defence Industry Minister, Defence Industry Development Grants program

Pat Conroy

Coverage

Stories naming Pat Conroy. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.

7 deals

Australian businesses win $22 million in defence development grants

Sixty Australian defence firms share over $22m in the newest round of a federal grants program; seven recipients are named, with awards for manufacturing, infrastructure and capability projects.

Also australianmanufacturing.com.au·manmonthly.com.au

2 deals

Advanced Design Technology and Penten awarded $8 million for 12-month electronic warfare projects

ADT and Penten have received federal contracts totalling above $8m through a national defence accelerator, funding year-long electronic warfare prototype projects which, the minister says, secure over 150 jobs.

Also Defence Connect

Grant $15m

Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, January 20 – January 24, 2025

Roundup of the week's five most-read manufacturing stories: a defence radio contract for Codan, university facility funding, a WEF white paper, ASCA missile-defence awards, and a port chair's farewell.

21 deals

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

Defence grants totalling over $60 million went to 21 Australian organisations, with quantum software firm Q-CTRL among the recipients of contracts under a federal emerging technologies program.

21 deals

$60m in defence quantum technology grants announced

Canberra is funding 21 quantum and counter-disinformation defence projects, awarding $60 million in grants through ASCA's Emerging and Disruptive Technologies programme to universities and companies nationwide.

Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·@AuManufacturing

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Companies prepare drone prototypes for Defence Sovereign UAS Challenge

More than eleven Australian defence firms have contracted to build drone prototypes under ASCA's Sovereign UAS Challenge, with contracts worth a combined $1.21 million and demonstrations planned for April.

Also @AuManufacturing

Funding announcement

Defence to trial drones in Innovation Incubation Challenge

Eleven companies will develop prototype drones for Defence's Sovereign UAS Challenge, run by ASCA, under contracts worth a combined $1.21 million, with demonstrations due in April.

7 deals

Advanced Navigation, Quantx Labs among seven defence grant recipients

Seven Australian manufacturers, including Advanced Navigation and Quantx Labs, have received federal grants under two Defence capability programs, with individual awards from $150,000 to $830,665 supporting projects across four states.

Also Defence Connect

Exit / M&A

Government nationalises defence tech firm CEA Technologies

The Commonwealth has agreed to acquire radar maker CEA Technologies, eventually making it a government business enterprise. The piece also recalls Motorola's purchase of Barrett Communications and flags other vulnerable defence firms.

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Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Roundup of Australian manufacturing items: EMVision collects grant money, Anduril completes a large Series E, Adherium receives a tax incentive payment, Tindo Solar's sales double, and Glaciem wins a New York clean energy program place.

Also @AuManufacturing·Forbes Australia

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