University and DST Partnership: Going from strength to strength

The University of Melbourne has collaborated with Defence Science and Technology (DST) for decades. The partnership was formalised in 2016 with the Defence Science Partnership Deed.

The Melbourne Defence Enterprise (MDE) works at aligning the University’s research capability with the research priorities of Defence, as articulated by DST. We are actively engaged in 11 areas of expertise; Aerospace systems, Autonomous systems, Cybersecurity, Enhanced Human Performance, Intelligence, Maritime systems, Medical countermeasures and bio-surveillance, Multidisciplinary materials, Power and energy, quantum sensors and computation and Spectrum Assurance. These areas of expertise are applied across the various divisions within DST. Our engagement with the defence community is enabled and framed by our partnership with DST to ensure enriching our national capabilities is always at the forefront of our research.

Over the past two years we have deepened our strategic engagement with DST through various activities including the DSTEM Student Conference 2019. DSTEM strengthened our relationship with DST and some of our emerging industry partners and students in the defence community. We have also volunteered at STEM events aimed at inspiring young women, from primary to high school ages with a desire to move into the STEM area in defence. The MDE has coordinated key opportunities, including the DST funded scholarships; Women in STEM Scholarship (2018) and the Indigenous STEM Scholarship (2019) to provide funding, support and commitment to under-represented groups in the defence community.

We are also building up opportunities for secondment, adjunct and honorary positions for DST personnel to embrace the defence research community. Our partnership with DST is growing stronger the more the University’s Defence Enterprise builds knowledge of the sector and learns about DST’s strategic goals and initiatives.

This strengthened collaboration is evidenced by a number of research agreements that have been funded by the Next Generation Technologies Fund, including a Grand Challenge project with Tectonica, two Defence CRC projects in Trusted Autonomous Systems (DefendTex & Consunet) and an AusMURI project with Boston University and MIT. The University is also leading a large Spectrum Assurance project with DST.

We work hand-in-hand with our university collaborators, industry partners and US Defense Agencies, but at all times, we want to ensure we maintain a strong Australian Defence science and technology capability.

The Defence Scholarship for Indigenous Students in STEM has gone live!

This scholarship is a commitment from DST to increase diversity and promote defence science and education across the Australian community.

Defence Scholarship for Indigenous Students in STEM

Related topics

Defence Technologies