Publication
Support for Enterprise, Research and Innovation in Defence
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Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD and Minister for Defence and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney TD today (Thursday) announced €2.4 million in funding to develop disruptive solutions to challenges facing the Irish Defence Forces.
Challenge-based funding is a solution-focused approach to research funding that uses prizes, strict timelines, teamwork and competition to direct research activities at ambitious societal problems.
The Challenge consists of three phases: Concept, Seed and Prize Award. 10 successful teams were today awarded funding to initiate their projects. They will then undergo a rigorous progress review after 3 months and up to 5 shortlisted teams will be provided with further funding of €200k to validate and prototype their proposed solutions. Finalists will then compete for the overall prize award of €1m to further develop their solution for deployment.
The teams are drawn from various disciplines, including computer science, mechanical engineering, and natural sciences. They bring forward a myriad of innovative ideas and expertise from machine learning and virtual reality to data analytics, engineering, and robotics.
Lead: Dr Brian Mac Namee (University College Dublin)
Co-Lead: Dr Anna Donnla O Hagan (Dublin City University)
DefOrg LiaisonLt : Niall Dungan (Irish Air Corps)
Challenge/Disruptive: Ideas Machine Learning & Virtual Reality for Sustainable & Effective Pilot Training
Solution: The power of machine learning and virtual reality will be harnessed to deliver more effective and more environmentally sustainable pilot training.
Lead: Dr Gavin McArdle (University College Dublin)
Co-Lead: Dr Michela Bertolotto (University College Dublin)
DefOrg Liaison: Comdt. David Mackey (Irish Air Corps)
Challenge/Disruptive Ideas: Enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the fire extinguishing capability of rotary-wing aircraft.
Solution: An innovative online Decision Support System (DSS) will be developed consisting of tools for data ingestion, aggregation, analysis, and visualisation, to enhance aerial firefighting.
Lead: Prof Tim McCarthy (Maynooth University)
Co-Lead: Prof John MacDonald (Maynooth University)
DefOrg Liaison: Comdt. Jay O'Reilly (Irish Air Corps)
Challenge/Disruptive Ideas: Enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the fire extinguishing capability of rotary-wing aircraft.
Solution: Using Earth Observation and Artificial Intelligence technologies, a new system capable of providing real-time information to responders in the air and on the ground will be developed to assist in managing wild fires.
Lead: Dr Ashish Vashishtha (Institute of Technology, Carlow)
Co-Lead: Dr Rory Monaghan (National University of Ireland, Galway)
DefOrg Liaison: Capt. Aoife Shanley (Corps of Engineers)
Challenge/Disruptive Ideas: AltFuel4DF: Portable and Scalable Waste to Synthetic Biofuel Technology Demonstrator to Decarbonise Defence Force Transport
Solution: A novel, scalable and portable Inclined Rotary Gasifier system will be developed to convert waste to gaseous and liquid fuel.
Lead: Prof Holger Claussen (Tyndall National Institute)
Co-Lead: Dr Boris Galkin (Trinity College Dublin)
DefOrg Liaison: Capt. Ken Lyons (CIS Corps)
Challenge/Disruptive Ideas: Aerial Communication System
Solution: MISTRAL will develop a network of flying, automated drones to provide reliable communications for humanitarian and peacekeeping missions.
Lead: Dr David Culliton (IT Carlow)
Co-Lead: Dr James Garland (IT Carlow)
DefOrg Liaison: Lt Cmdr. Clodagh McConnell (Irish Naval Service)
Challenge/Disruptive Ideas: Prevention and detection of water ingress to offshore patrol vessels
Solution: Machine learning techniques coupled with sensor data will be used to detect, monitor and predict the effects of water ingress on vessels.
Lead: Prof Lokesh Joshi (National University of Ireland)
Co-Lead: Dr Stephen Cunningham (National University of Ireland)
Challenge/Disruptive Ideas Detection of multiple biological agents
Solution: A novel, rapid, inexpensive and portable device will be developed that allows for the detection and discrimination of multiple biological agents relevant to security and public health.
Lead: Prof Denis Dowling (University College Dublin)
Co-Lead: Dr Owen Humphreys (University College Dublin)
DefOrg Liaison: Lt Cmdr. David Memery (Irish Naval Service)
Challenge/Disruptive Ideas : Light-weight, high efficiency, electric propulsion solution for enabling zero emissions marine transport
Solution: Marine vessels have a large environmental impact through CO2 emissions and other forms of pollution. Electro-Marine will develop a novel prototype marine electric motor and demonstrate its use on rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs).
Lead: Dr Robert Johnson (University College Dublin)
Co-Lead: Prof Seamus Fanning (University College Dublin)
DefOrg Liaison: Lt Col Anthony Corcoran (Medical Corps)
Challenge/Disruptive Ideas: Robust and Reusable Biosensors
Solution: Food poisoning and gastro-intestinal viruses are health risks that can significantly affect the operational capabilities of organisations like the Defence Forces. ECHEM SENSE will develop a new type of reusable biosensor, capable of detecting multiple food pathogens, in low resource environments.
Lead: Prof Rozenn Dahyot (Maynooth University)
Co-Lead: Dr Marco Cognetti (Maynooth University)
DefOrg Liaison: Capt. Tom Mullarkey (Irish Air Corps)
Challenge/Disruptive Ideas: Cyber-physical system to assist in, or potentially automate, manoeuvring of aircraft between a hangar and apron.
Solution: Smart Hangar will develop a co-operative system that will allow a human controller and robot to work together to manoeuvre aircraft.
Working with Enterprise Ireland, the Department of Defence and Defence Forces support capability development, by raising the awareness of and engaging with, Irish-based enterprise and research institutes, including third level colleges that are engaged in relevant and related activities. In turn, the Defence Forces provide information and knowledge from its own experience on the use and application of innovative civilian technologies in the military sphere.
The Defence Organisation is involved in a number of collaborations alongside Irish enterprise, research and academia, which includes participation in Horizon 2020 funded projects. The Defence Enterprise Initiative will continue to engage with Irish industry and research institutes where there is a linkage to the development of Defence Forces capabilities. A link to the Defence Enterprise Strategy can be found here and the Policy on Intellectual Property in the area of Research, Development and Innovation for the Defence Organisation can be found here .
A Civil-Military Research Technology and Innovation Unit is currently being established in the Defence Organisation and should be fully operational later this year. A link to the Feasibility Study on the Establishment of a Research, Technology & Innovation Capability for the Defence Organisation can be found here . The recently launched SFI-Defence Organisation Challenge can be found here .
The first webinar for the challenge took place on Tuesday the 20 July 2021 @ 14.00. The presentation from the webinar can be accessed here .
The second webinar for the challenge will take place on Tuesday the 10 August 2021@ 14.00. A link for the webinar can be accessed here .
The European Commission recently held an online event launching the European Defence Fund (EDF) Regulation and the EDF Work Programme for 2021. A recording of the event can be accessed at https://www.eu-defence-fund-launch.eu/ . The 2021 EDF Work Programme Call for Proposals can be accessed here.
The European Defence Fund (EDF) regulation was adopted on 29th April 2021. The Regulation can be accessed at EUR-Lex - 52018PC0476 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu) .
The EDF will provide grant funding assistance to collaborative cross border consortia of industrial entities to research and develop new defence capabilities in a number of areas between 2021 and 2027. The total funding available for the programme over seven years is almost €8 billion. A proportion of the budget is earmarked each year for projects with cross-border participation of SMEs and projects focused on emerging and disruptive technologies (EDTs).