17 February 2025
Defence has signed a new agreement to tap into world-class expertise and research in artificial intelligence (AI) and data science.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Defence, the University of South Australia, and the Alan Turing Institute, based in the United Kingdom.
This MOU will strengthen strategic collaboration through information sharing in areas of high impact, including autonomous systems, cyber defence and natural language processing.
Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro said the agreement demonstrated the integral role of academic and international partners in capability development for Defence.
“Through partnerships, we deliver scientific advice and technology solutions that unlock and enhance critical capability for Defence and the national security community,” Professor Monro said.
“Collaborating internationally is also essential to enabling Defence to access a greater range of innovative science and technology expertise, infrastructure and technical data to help address mutual problems.”
Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Enterprise at the University of South Australia, Professor Peter Murphy, said this new collaboration highlighted their ongoing support of a collaborative and co-design approach to research.
“The formalisation of this partnership will enable cutting-edge research to ensure AI innovations are developed and applied responsibly, addressing challenges across Australia and the UK,” Professor Murphy said.
The Alan Turing Institute is the UK’s national institute for data science and AI.
'Through partnerships, we deliver scientific advice and technology solutions that unlock and enhance critical capability for Defence and the national security community.'
Director of the Centre for Emerging Technology and Security at the Alan Turing Institute, Dr Sacha Babuta, said global collaboration was essential to unlocking the full potential of emerging technologies for defence and security.
“Working with Australia’s world-class research institutions will help us to tackle shared challenges and, ultimately, help both nations harness new technologies to meet societal needs,” Dr Babuta said.
Trusted Autonomy and Information Warfare are two of Defence’s six innovation, science and technology priorities, as outlined in the 2024 National Defence Strategy, that will benefit directly from this collaboration.
Australia is committed to the responsible development, deployment, acquisition and use of artificial intelligence in the military domain, in compliance with Australia’s obligations under international law.
