Delivering science and technology that directly supports the Defence mission is a central focus of the Australian Defence Science, Technology and Research Summit (ADSTAR), with 'Mission Driven' identified as one of the summit's core themes.
Science and technology delivers the greatest value when guided by clear mission intent. Aligning research and innovation to Defence missions ensures every idea has a pathway to impact.
This focus will be reflected across the ADSTAR 2026 program, including through the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) Pitch Day, where cutting‑edge ideas are tested against operational challenges facing the Australian Defence Force.
"Mission‑driven innovation is about ensuring our investment in science and technology delivers outcomes that matter to the warfighter," Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro said.
"Providing clarity on the mission we are solving for enables concepts to move with purpose from research to real operational impact."
ASCA's mission is to accelerate the development and transition of asymmetric capabilities to the ADF through innovation in order to meet Defence priority needs.
ASCA head Major General Hugh Meggitt said the pitch day model flipped the traditional approach.
"By clearly defining capability needs up front, we invite industry and academia to deliver solutions that can be delivered at pace," Major General Meggitt said.
The theme of the 2026 ASCA Pitch Day - 'Resilient Command and Control (C2)' - reflects the increasingly contested character of the modern battlespace. Solutions are sought to enable operations in denied, degraded, intermittent and limited (DDIL) environments, protect critical C2 capabilities and support rapid recovery when networks are disrupted.
'Mission‑driven innovation is about ensuring our investment in science and technology delivers outcomes that matter to the warfighter.'
Prevailing in complex and contested environments will require the ADF to integrate capabilities across air, maritime, land, space and cyber domains. Future operations are expected to be fast‑paced and increasingly dynamic, presenting multiple dilemmas to adversaries and friendly forces alike.
Developing an agile and resilient C2 system that works across all domains and operating environments is a critical enabling capability. Effective C2 allows warfighters to think, decide and act.
"Warfighting is multi‑domain," Major General Meggitt said.
"Command and control is the glue that binds those domains together and allows effects to be delivered in an appropriate and effective way. C2 systems must be robust, adaptable and flexible in order to reduce the burden on commanders.
"We must expect our networks to be targeted.
"Resilient command and control is fundamental to maintaining decision advantage."
Those with the most promising solutions will be invited to present at the annual pitch day during ADSTAR 2026, to be held in Adelaide from August 4 to 6.
"Mission driven means we measure success by impact," Professor Monro said.
"Clear alignment to the Defence mission ensures science and technology strengthens the ADF's ability to operate and win in contested environments."
Register to attend ADSTAR via the summit's website.
