The ICERA contracts will provide $36m over six years, funded through Defence’s Next Generation Technologies Fund. Credit: Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

The Australian Government has announced the award of up to $3.6m in contracts to 12 small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The contracts are part of Australia’s industry engagement initiative, known as ‘Industry Competitive Evaluation Research Agreement (ICERA)’.

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This initiative was launched by Australia Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price in August.

Price said: “ICERA recognises the growing importance and capability of Australian small-to-medium businesses and nowhere is this clearer than in the cybersecurity domain.”

The ICERA awards, which are funded via defence’s Next Generation Technologies Fund (NGTF), will provide $36m over six years.

The total number of successful ICERA contracts is 22, with the ones announced being the first round of contracts awarded.

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The 12 ICERA partners are Breakaway Consulting, InfoSect, Insight Via Artificial Intelligence, Jaywick Group, Mentum Systems, Spinlock Security, Critus, Quantitative, Biosensis, Fivecast, Safran Electronics & Defence Australasia and Cryoclock.

According to the Australian Department of Defense, these SMEs will receive up to $300,000 each.

The businesses will work on research projects such as cybersecurity, enhanced human performance, integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), quantum technologies and advanced sensors.

Price added: “I am particularly pleased to announce that two of these initial ICERA partnerships are with businesses new to defence.

“The ICERA programme aims to support small-to-medium businesses that are critical to enhancing our tactical and strategic edge as Australia’s strategic context continues to evolve.”