Australia launches defence industry agency

The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) launched on 26 November a new agency to support local firms' entrance and expansion in the country's defence market.

The Office of Defence Industry Support (ODIS) replaces the Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC), which was established in December 2016.

ODIS advertises itself as a “one-stop shop” for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that do business with the DoD.

It said its key services include direct links between SMEs and defence procurement programmes and military end-users; identifying SMEs that can meet Australia's defence requirements; and assisting SMEs to co-operate with end-users.

ODIS will also provide financial grants to assist the development of SMEs and train and support the companies in identifying opportunities and pursuing defence contracts.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said, “This new organisation will work directly with state and territory agencies, industry associations, SMEs, and major contractors to build greater sovereign capability.”

“We need to start dragging the right SMEs through the door with the ability to provide local solutions [to meet] defence's capability requirements,” she added.

The DoD also said it will conduct regular reviews of ODIS during its first year of operations to ensure that it is meeting both industry and DoD requirements.