Irish government dedicates €2.4 million to new brain trust
Each of the teams will focus on a particular challenge. (Image: SFI)
Irish Ministers Simon Harris and Simon Coveney have announced ten research teams have been shortlisted for the defence innovation competition.
The Irish Ministers for Defence; for Foreign Affairs; and for Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science dedicated €2.4 million in funding to develop disruptive defence solutions on 17 February.
Ten research teams have been shortlisted for the SFI-Defence Organisation Innovation Challenge.
They will collaborate with the Irish Defence Forces and compete for funding to develop disruptive solutions to a number of challenges identified by the Defence Organisation. Each team will tackle a particular issue.
These include a portable device to detect biological agents, AI technology to assist the Irish Air Corps to fight wildfires, reducing the carbon footprint of its vehicle fleet to a novel prototype marine electric motor and a cooperative system that will allow a human controller and robot to work together to manoeuvre aircraft.
Simon Harris, the Minister for Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, commented: ‘Today, the ten [teams] will be awarded funding to initiate their projects and one will secure €1 million in funding’.
The SFI-Defence Organisation Innovation Challenges consists of three phases, Concept, Seed and Prize Award.
After three months, up to five shortlisted teams will be provided with further funding to validate and prototype their solutions and the finalists will then compete for the final award, to be announced in January 2023.
You may also like
More from Defence Notes
-
![Malaysia’s defence budget sets out major procurement goals for 2026]()
Malaysia’s defence budget sets out major procurement goals for 2026
The country has allocated RM21.70 billion for defence spending next year, with some major procurements set to be initiated across the country’s army, navy and air force.
-
![GAO highlights the need for more commercial data and availability improvements]()
GAO highlights the need for more commercial data and availability improvements
The US Government Accountability Office recently released two reports; one into the availability of selected equipment and another looking at how the government gets data and intellectual property rights through contracting.
-
![How Canada plans to “seize” the opportunity to increase investments in defence]()
How Canada plans to “seize” the opportunity to increase investments in defence
The Canadian Department of National Defence has been increasing efforts to accelerate the acquisition of new equipment and modernise its in-service inventory.
-
![Palantir and Boeing partner up to bring AI to defence manufacturing]()
Palantir and Boeing partner up to bring AI to defence manufacturing
The partnership with the US airframer will see Palantir’s AI software leveraged to help streamline data analytics across Boeing’s 12 factories on defence and classified programmes.
-
![DroneShield to double its US footprint to meet growing demand for counter-UxS capabilities]()
DroneShield to double its US footprint to meet growing demand for counter-UxS capabilities
DroneShield disclosed to Shephard its plans to increase its workforce and manufacturing capacities while strengthening partnerships with US suppliers.
-
![Singapore’s DSTA seeks wider partnerships to advance robotics and AI capabilities]()
Singapore’s DSTA seeks wider partnerships to advance robotics and AI capabilities
The technology organisation is expecting a significant rise in the number of staff working across robotics and digital solutions as it becomes more of a focal point.
