Innovative individuals and companies in the Land domain have until July 9 to enter the 2018 Land Forces Industry Innovation Awards, to be presented at the Land Forces 2018 conference and exhibition at the Adelaide Convention Centre from September 4 to 6.
Awards will be presented in the following categories:
- LAND FORCES 2018 National Innovation Award
- LAND FORCES 2018 SME Innovation Grant ($15,000)
- LAND FORCES 2018 Young Innovator Award ($15,000)
Organisers also strongly encourage entries in the following categories, for which the judges, at their discretion, may present additional prizes:
- Combat Equipment and Mobility: from body armour and personal equipment up to guided weapons, high velocity guns for armoured vehicles and advanced truck and vehicle designs;
- Autonomous and Unmanned Systems: from hand-held UAVs, airborne payloads and advanced ground stations to robots, autonomous battlefield surveillance sensors and vehicles;
- Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR): from an infra-red weapon sight or tactical communications systems to a corps-level battle management system, satellite communications link, Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Cyber Securitycapability.
This will be the third Land Forces to feature the Innovation Awards, developed by not-for-profit Land Forces organiser Industry Defence and Security Australia Limited (IDSAL).
“The awards reflect our altruistic purpose, which is to promote the development of Australia’s defence industries,” said Land Forces 2018 CEO Ian Honnery. “We have expanded them and increased the value of the two cash prizes in recognition of the great work being done by innovative Australians.”
“We want to present all six awards; we want to recognise the skills and expertise that exist within Australia and reward the highly innovative work which is being undertaken by Australian companies and individuals.”
The awards are open to Australian companies or the Australian subsidiaries of overseas parent companies. The innovation could be a new product or service, to a new approach to business. Entries will be judged on originality and their understanding of user needs.
The 2016 award winners included:
National Innovation Award: Australian Defence Apparel, for the One299 adjustable backpack frame which provides the ability to better distribute a soldier’s pack load for greater comfort.
SME Innovation Grant: Marathon Targets, for its robotic small-arms target system for use in Army live fire training and exercises.
Young Innovator Scholarship: Dr. Long Nguyen of DST Group at Fishermens Bend, Victoria, for his world-leading exploratory research on Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) polyethylene composite vehicle armour.
The Land Forces Industry Innovation Awards are part of a program also involving Maritime, Aerospace and Civil Security Industry Innovation Awards, presented biennially at the Pacific International Maritime Expo in Sydney, the Australian International Air Show and Aerospace & Defence Exposition at Avalon Airport and the CivSec Civil Security Congress and Exposition in Melbourne.
The program has awarded $245,000 in Innovation grants and awards across all events since it began in 2013.
For more information or to submit an entry: www.landforces.com.au
The Land Forces 2018 Exposition will be held at the Adelaide Exhibition Centre from 4 to 6 September 2018 and is supported by the Australian Defence Force, in particular the Australian Army, the Defence Science & Technology Group and the Department of Defence’s Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG).
For enquiries about the awards contact:
Gregor Ferguson
Executive Manager Industry Development
Industry Defence and Security Australia Limited
P: 03 5282 0550
M: 0414 803 717
E: gferguson@amda.com.au
For media enquiries please contact:
Philip Smart
Executive Manager Corporate Communications
Aerospace Maritime Defence and Security Foundation of Australia Limited
M: 0438 311 644
E: psmart@amda.com.au
