MITRE Australia Announces Collaborations with University Partners to Accelerate Innovation

December 01, 2022 at 10:00 AM EST

New headquarters office in Canberra bridges government, industry, and academia to advance solutions to whole-of-nation challenges of national security and global significance

MITRE Australia, a not-for-profit operating in the public interest, opened a headquarters office and advanced systems engineering center in the Brindabella Business Park in Canberra to support growing engagement with Australian government, business, and research institutions. Building on AUKUS and bi-lateral Australian–U.S. accords, MITRE Australia signed agreements with new collaboration partners to foster development of whole-of-nation solutions that strengthen the defense of Australia, as well as security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

The new agreements include the Australian National University, University of New South Wales (UNSW), University of Adelaide, and Flinders University. Building on the goals of the AUKUS agreement, these technology collaborations focus on enhancing cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, maritime autonomy, quantum, and other technology innovations to advance whole-of-nation solutions.

“These partnerships accelerate Australia’s sovereign capabilities in defense, cybersecurity, and space as well as strengthen Australia’s technology leadership and coalition partnerships,” said Keoki Jackson, senior vice president and general manager, MITRE National Security Sector. “Australia plays a critical role in the Pacific. We are committed to help accelerate the implementation of the AUKUS agreement and promote stability, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Julie Bowen, MITRE’s senior vice president for operations and outreach, and chief legal officer, added, “MITRE has more than 60 years of history bridging government, industry, and academia to foster transformational innovation. We’re bringing that experience to the Australian government and partners to accelerate game-changing, real-world results. These whole-of-nation collaborations will catalyze solutions to some of the world’s most complex challenges.”

Vice Admiral Professor Paul Maddison, director of UNSW’s Defense Research Institute, said, “UNSW is thrilled to be partnering with MITRE and applauds the strategic vision behind the decision to incorporate in Australia. As a defense research and education intensive university with a decades-long formal relationship with the Department of Defense at the Australian Defense Force Academy, UNSW is committed to accelerating the defense concept to capability cycle, especially in the priority capability areas highlighted by the AUKUS agreement. By activating UNSW’s ground-breaking and world-class research expertise across MITRE’s deep systems engineering networks, I’m certain that great opportunities will be generated to collaborate at speed in service to the shared national security interests of Australia and the USA.”

Professor Keith Nugent, deputy vice chancellor, research & innovation, The Australian National University, said, “We welcome MITRE to Australia and look forward to working together to forge new engagements with the U.S. as partners under the AUKUS agreement. Through the ANU-MITRE MOU, the Australian National University will work with MITRE to increase our engagement with defense industries to ensure our nation’s security.”

Professor Simon Lucey, director of the University of Adelaide’s Australian Institute for Machine Learning, said, “Building Australia’s sovereign capability in artificial intelligence is vital for our future security and prosperity. This new partnership between MITRE and the University of Adelaide’s Australian Institute for Machine Learning will see our leading AI research help support greater regional stability for Australia and its global allies.”

MITRE also has a Sponsoring and Collaboration Agreement with the Australian Defense Science and Technology Group (DSTG) to serve as the conduit between Australia and partners to facilitate interoperability and the integration of joint forces and weapon systems. In addition, MITRE is an active member of the Australian Cyber Collaboration Center (AC3). In March 2022, MITRE established its first international applied research center – The MITRE Center for Information Integrity & Defense – within Lot Fourteen in Adelaide, South Australia.

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MITRE’s mission-driven teams are dedicated to solving problems for a safer world. Through our public-private partnerships and federally funded R&D centers, we work across government and in partnership with industry to tackle challenges to the safety, stability, and well-being of the United States and our allies. Learn more at www.mitre.org.au.