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21 Australian innovators will each deliver a 3-minute pitch to win one of the three prestigious Land Forces 2024 Innovation Awards, collectively worth $120,000.

Among them are a company who have created a mobile 3D printer for use on the battlefield; a young engineer who carried out the design, mechanical engineering, material selection, and creation of manufacturing drawings for a new guided missile project; and a company that manufactures a ‘mixed reality’ simulator that enables combat medics to practice in a 'real life' simulation.

The innovators will now deliver a final pitch of their ideas to a panel of judges on the opening day of Land Forces 2024, with the winners of each category announced at the conclusion of the session.

Winners will be awarded across three categories, each worth $40,000:

• Land Forces 2024 Innovation Award
• Land Forces 2024 Emerging Technology Award
• Land Forces 2024 Young Innovator Award

The finalists are:

INNOVATION AWARD FINALISTS

• Buzzworks (QLD) - Transparent facial protection for troops facing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) 
• DroneShield (NSW) - System that detects, classifies, locates and defeats hostile drone systems
• ECLIPS Logistics (QLD) - Robotic refuelling system to enhance Army’s battlefield fuel trucks
• Fivecast (SA )- AI-enabled risk-assessment software
• Spee3D (VIC and NT) - 3D printing Expeditionary Manufacturing Unit (EMU)

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY FINALISTS

• Advanced Composite Design Corporation (SA) - Advanced composite battery cell using graphene and nanoparticles to achieve unprecedented energy density and efficiency
• Amiga Engineering (VIC)- 3D printing lightweight titanium armour for humans and vital equipment
• Buzzworks (QLD)- Virtual reality system that enables rapid integration of new combat equipment at minimum weight for soldiers
• CSIRO – Manufacturing (VIC) - New CBRN suit textile that provides protection while reducing heat stress and exhaustion
• DefendTex (VIC) - Guided 40mm Rocket Propelled Grenade with a 2.5km range that can be fired from a standard grenade launcher
• DSTG (SA) - An alternative to GPS for navigation, timing and synchronisation
• Invicta Prospects Group (NSW) - AI-enabled app that enables operators to control and reduce the risk of Traumatic Brain Injury in training and on operations
• GLIA Diagnostics (NSW) - Simple on-the-spot test to detect individuals with blast-induced brain injuries in training and on operations
• Omega Development (NSW) - A transparent protective mask for training infantry and special forces
• Praxis Labs (SA) - Solar cells that can be integrated into the panels of a military vehicle
• Real Response (VIC) - A mixed reality simulator that enables combat medics to train as if they were in a real aircraft, ambulance or hospital
• Seitec (ACT) - System to detect and localise unexploded ordnance in real time, whether dropped from an aircraft or fired by artillery

YOUNG INNOVATOR AWARD FINALISTS

• Ms Joanna Allard (VIC) for her ground-breaking work combating deadly nerve agents
• Mr Thomas Bentham (VIC) for his work on DefendTex Distributed Autonomy (DDA) systems enabling rapid human tasking of swarms of robots
• Ms Tara Pemboss (QLD) for her engineering work on Black Sky Aerospace’s Ultra-Mobile Artillery Rocket System V 2.0
• Mr Joe Zadnik (VIC) for his work on designing and developing Ultra High Temperature carbon rocket nozzles

The Innovation Awards pitch presentations and winners announcement will be held on Wednesday 11 September at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. It is free and open to all Land Forces 2024 attendees.

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