Defence – WA Innovation Calendar

WA DEFENCE REVIEW Industry Networking

A relaxed and enjoyable setting for professionals from the defence, engineering, mining and energy, critical infrastructure, innovation and other associated sectors to attend and derive value from our networking opportunities.

Event MC

Daniel Moss, Defence Industry Advisor, Office of Defence Industry Support

Sponsor

Petch Folvig, Managing Director, Little IT Co & Ascend Cyber & Technology

Guest Speakers

Henry Johnson, West Australia Regional Chair, Australasian Hydrography Society
Jay Sri Kantha, Principal Manufacturing Engineer, H&B Defence
Michael Faulkner, Principal Economic Development, City of Cockburn
Sammar Abbas, National President, Royal Institution of Naval Architects Australia

DEADLINE: Peel Drone Training Sponsorship Program

As part of this initiative, five sponsorship positions are available for eligible Peel businesses, local government employees, and residents to obtain their Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) through the Drone Innovation Hub.

The Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) is Australia’s nationally recognised qualification for operating drones commercially and is rapidly becoming an essential skill across a wide range of industries, including:

Successful applicants will have the opportunity to complete their RePL training for a heavily subsidised fee of AUD $1,895.00.

Applications are open to:

Peel-based businesses | Local government representatives and employees | Residents living within the Peel region

From Ore to Orbit: WA’s Additive Manufacturing Advantage

The Defence Science Centre and Western Australia’s TeamWA universities Edith Cowan University, The University of Western Australia, Murdoch University and Curtin University warmly invite you to join us for the next Defence Innovation on Tap event of 2026.

Edith Cowan University’s Defence Engagement team is pleased to present From Ore to Orbit: WA’s Additive Manufacturing Advantage”, featuring a keynote address by Dr Stephen Sun, Research Scientist with the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) and a leading expert in additive manufacturing (3D printing) for aerospace and defence applications.

Joined by representatives from WA universities, the discussion will examine how Western Australia can leverage its strengths in critical minerals, engineering expertise, research excellence and industrial capability to develop a nationally signiﬁcant additive manufacturing ecosystem. As Australia advances the priorities of the National Defence Strategy and the Future Made in Australia agenda, additive manufacturing is emerging as a key enabler of sovereign industrial capability.

This event will explore how greater collaboration between government, industry and academia can help position WA at the forefront of advanced manufacturing, delivering future defence capability, economic growth and innovation.

Wednesday 22nd July 2026 | 5:30pm – 8:00pm | The Albany Room, Victoria Park Hotel, 605 Albany Hwy, Vic Park

DEADLINE: ECU – Exercise Western Dawn Participation

Edith Cowan University invites expressions of interests from industry professionals, researchers, academics higher degree by research candidates, university students, engineers, technologists, software developers, roboticists, cyber specialists and innovators to participate in Exercise Western Dawn.

Building on the success of previous Western Dawn innovation activities, EDWD26 represents a significant evolution from concept generation into the practical development, testing and demonstration of human / robotic capability. Participants will work alongside Defence personnel, researchers and industry experts to tackle a realistic and challenging mission focused problem through the design, integration and testing of robotic and autonomous systems.

Industry participants have the opportunity to access new talent, research expertise and partnerships across sectors in an environment focused on experimentation and innovation.

Learn more here

Deadline 12 August 2026

Virtual Breach Point: US DoD Market Access Webinar #6

This is an online event series for Australian defence tech founders ready to scale in America.

What John will cover:

AUKUS opportunities
US Policy and Lobbying
Who to contact and how to reach the right decision-makers
How to engage with stakeholders in the Political, National Security, and Defence ecosystems

DEADLINE: Defence Industry Development Grants Sovereign Industrial Priorities Stream

The Defence Industry Development Grants Program will fund small to medium enterprises to build Australia’s sovereign capability, global competitiveness, technical superiority and national security.

Sovereign Industrial Priorities Stream supports SMEs to purchase manufacturing plant and equipment which is used directly to develop and/or deliver programs that are in line with the Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities (SDIPs) described in the Defence Industry Development Strategy. Deadline 31 August

The Skilling stream helps Australian defence industry to upskill and train in priority trade, technical and professional skillsets to develop a workforce with the right mix of qualified and experienced personnel to meet Defence requirements. The program will enhance the capacity and capability of Australian defence industry workforce to deliver SDIPs described in the Defence Industry Development Strategy.

The Exports stream provides support for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to overcome export barriers and help defence industry build scale and competitiveness in defence capability priority areas as identified by the SDIPs described in the Defence Industry Development Strategy.

The Security stream helps Australian defence industry improve and maintain security in priority areas as identified by the SDIPs and in line with the Defence Industry Security Program.

WA | Building The New Defence-Tech Economy

As global strategic uncertainty intensifies and advanced technologies become central to both defence capability and economic strength, Australia faces critical choices about building sovereign capability, resilient supply chains and globally competitive defence‑tech industries.

This conversation brings together government, industry, investors and the community to explore how AUKUS Pillar II creates new commercial opportunities across AI, quantum, cyber, electronic warfare and undersea systems, how SMEs can cross the commercial “valley of death” from R&D to revenue, and how Western Australia can position itself as a globally competitive hub for defence‑tech, talent and investment in the decade ahead.

SCOPE 2026 – Supply Chain Opportunities & Procurement Engagement

SCOPE is presented by CCIWA in partnership with ICN Western Australia — two organisations with a combined track record of connecting WA businesses to the projects and people that matter.

Join us for our inaugural SCOPE event which will bring together 400+ procurement managers, project owners, prime contractors and government representatives from WA’s energy, defence and resources – in one room, for one day.

Hear directly what the Government is prioritising and be seen by the ministers who matter to your sector. Project proponents will provide briefs live on upcoming work, procurement timelines and capability requirements. Structured and open networking is designed to connect suppliers directly with decision-makers.

DEADLINE: Defence West EOI (Western Defence Forge)

An Expression of Interest (EOI) to understand WA’s capability across defence-related manufacturing and supply chains opens on 26 May and closes on 8 July 2026.

Defence West invites industry and research organisations to respond to the EOI to help shape Western Australia’s contribution to defence-related manufacturing and supply chain capability.

Responses are welcomed from organisations with existing or emerging capabilities that could contribute to defence related manufacturing and supply chains, including (but not limited to):

Prime contractors and major suppliers
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
Research organisations and universities
Enabling sectors (advanced manufacturing, materials, electronics, test & evaluation, safety/quality systems, logistics and sustainment)

Respondents must be headquartered in WA, operate in WA, or demonstrate a clear pathway to establishing capability, partnerships or supply chain activity within the state.

WiDA WA Networking Evening

Join the Women in Defence Association (WiDA) WA community for an evening of purposeful networking ahead of IODS.

This event brings together professionals from across the defence and national security ecosystem to strengthen connections, exchange insights, and build relationships that support capability across the sector — all within a relaxed and accessible environment.