Up to $1M is available from the Counter Improvised Threats Grand Challenge to address the proliferation and variety of improvised threats.
Counter Improvised Threats Grand Challenge
The Counter Improvised Threats Grand Challenge is a unified Science and Technology (S&T) program to address the proliferation and variety of improvised threats. It underpins the Joint Counter Improvised Threats Task Force mission aimed at leading the Defence response to defeat such threats in support of current and future operations.
Background
The Counter Improvised Threats Grand Challenge seeks to harness science, technology and innovation capability across Australia to develop technology solutions that enable stand-off detection and neutralisation of improvised threats without casualties in a complex joint battlespace. Stand-off is required to reduce the risk to Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and civilians.
Defence wants to work with the Australian innovation community (industry, academia and government research agencies) to create the ability to build prototype systems that detect and defeat a range of improvised threats while protecting Defence personnel and the civilian community. The goal of the Counter Improvised Threats Grand Challenge is to demonstrate integrated sets of detection and neutralisation systems within three years. As threats evolve over time it is expected that continuous innovation with potential solutions will be required.
Objectives
The aim of this unified S&T program is to develop technology solutions that enable stand-off detection and neutralisation of improvised threats without casualties in a complex joint battlespace. The program will be successful if, within three years, it can develop and deliver open, modular, flexible systems that will detect and respond to a range of improvised threats with minimal risk to Defence personnel or civilians. The system should be able to detect improvised threats with high confidence and specificity and subsequently cue appropriate responses to an operator located beyond the effective range of the improvised threat.
A premise of the approach is that no single sensor will be able to unambiguously detect all improvised threats in all possible scenarios. It is expected that the research and development conducted in this Grand Challenge will lead to the creation of new sensors, in combination with the application and fusion of existing sensors, to form evolvable, integrated solutions which not only improve threat identification but also provide relevant response options resulting in technologies which safely neutralise those threats.
This strategy is designed to enable the rapid evolution of potential solutions through the integration of new detection and neutralisation technologies as new threats and different operating needs emerge.
Funding
Proposals are sought for funding for up to three years duration. Each project is expected to be funded in the range of $100,000 to $1,000,000 per year depending on scale, complexity and risk. Proposals should include an in-kind contribution from the participant. Collaboration with Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group is encouraged, but is not a prerequisite for applications.
Eligibility
This Grand Challenge is seeking proposals from industry, academia and government research agencies to contribute to the development of the integrated improvised threat defeat system. Specifically, proposals should address:
- improvised threat defeat concepts;
- the development of sensor and neutralisation concepts and technologies; and/or
- algorithms for signal processing, data fusion, automatic target recognition and determining response options.
Sensors should have high detection performance and specificity for improvised threats and response options should be tailored to defeat improvised threats in a controlled manner.
Grand Challenge Information Sessions
In-person information sessions will be held by the Grand Challenge program leads in the following locations after the release of the Call for Applications.
Canberra – 04 May 2017 10:00 am
Adelaide – 08 May 2017 10:00 am
Melbourne – 09 May 2017 10:00 am
Sydney – 09 May 2017 1:00 pm
Brisbane – 10 May 2017 10:00 am
Perth – 10 May 2017 10:00 am
Find further details and register for an event near you at: www.grandchallenges.eventbrite.com
Timing
| 26/05/2017 | First stage application closing date |
| 12/06/2017 | Notification of first stage application outcomes: A detailed second stage proposal template will be provided to successful first stage applicants |
| 07/07/2017 | Second stage detailed proposal closing date |
| 24/07/2017 | Second stage detailed proposal application outcomes announced |
| 25/07/2017 | Contracting phase begins |
