The Australian government has announced a major investment of nearly A$40 million (US$26 million) to enhance the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) ability to make faster and more accurate decisions in increasingly complex information environments. The funding is being delivered through the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) under its Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) program. A total of 14 contracts have been signed to advance what is known as “Decision Advantage” across air, land, maritime, space and cyber domains.

“Decision Advantage” is defined as the ability to make decisions more rapidly and effectively than potential adversaries. It is one of the six key capability effects identified in Australia’s 2024 National Defence Strategy. By investing in advanced data processing, artificial intelligence and machine reasoning technologies, Australia aims to ensure that the ADF maintains an operational edge in multi-domain operations, where speed and accuracy of information processing are critical to mission success.

The funding recipients include a combination of leading universities and innovative technology companies across several Australian states and territories. The Australian National University received A$1.02 million, Curtin University secured A$3.17 million, Macquarie University and Western Sydney University jointly received A$3.29 million, and the University of New South Wales was awarded A$3.22 million. In the private sector, Cortisonic and Swordfish Computing received A$3.23 million and A$3.09 million respectively. This broad distribution of funding highlights a strong collaboration between government, academia and industry to accelerate sovereign defence capabilities.

The selected projects focus on advanced machine reasoning, automated data integration and AI-driven analytical tools designed to process vast volumes of information from multiple sensors and intelligence sources. These capabilities will support commanders with real-time, actionable insights, significantly improving situational awareness and operational planning. ASCA Head Major General Hugh Meggitt emphasized that the investment will help shape future ASCA missions and deliver asymmetric advantages to the ADF. Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro AC also underlined that the initiative strengthens long-term partnerships with Australian researchers, engineers and innovators to develop home-grown solutions to emerging security challenges.

Following 123 submissions to the EDT call for proposals, the selected projects represent some of the most promising technological innovations in Australia’s defence ecosystem. As regional and global information environments continue to evolve, this investment marks a decisive step toward securing Australia’s technological and strategic edge.