Irish government dedicates €2.4 million to new brain trust
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.
More from Defence Notes
-
US lawmakers warn that “more military spending is absolutely necessary” to ensure Pentagon’s readiness
The US Congress has raised concerns about how inflation rates and cuts in main acquisition programmes could affect the US military.
-
Can the US overcome Russian and Chinese nuclear capabilities?
Washington’s ageing inventory and the pace Moscow and Beijing have been modernising their capabilities put in check the US Nuclear deterrence.
-
US FY2024 funding package passes as China closes military capability gap
The Pentagon has been operating under temporary funding since October 2023, which has impacted its main acquisition and development programmes, increasing the capability gap between the US and China.
-
NATO outlines future challenges as Ukrainian funding from US stalls
In 2023, defence spending increased by an unprecedented 11% across European NATO countries and Canada. Since 2014, the group has spent an additional US$600 billion on defence.
-
US Pentagon to reduce investments in main acquisition programmes over FY2025
The DoD requested nearly US$850 billion to fund operations over the next fiscal year. Despite the amount being 1% higher than the FY2024 budget request, it has not covered the 3% inflation rate, which could impact the DoD’s main programmes in the medium and long term.
-
Haiti crisis forces Caribbean militaries to prepare for intervention
As gangs gain control of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s Caribbean neighbours have been preparing to intervene in the failed state, with the US and other partners waiting in the wings with equipment and financial support.