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DSTO - Defence Science & Technology Organisation

08/10/2026 | Press release | Archived content

ADSTAR 2026 is just the start of the conversation

The ADSTAR Summit may have wrapped up, but only the start of the conversation...

The Summit brought the brightest minds together in Adelaide to collaborate, challenge, and accelerate capability development that will shape the future of Australia's Defence innovation.

An ongoing trend throughout the Summit was the need for translating innovation into real-world outcomes at speed and scale to remain agile in our continuous capability development. This is only possible with an invested integrated ecosystem.

Delegates explored bold ideas, heard from inspiring industry leaders, and connected with creative minds from around the world. From thought-provoking presentations to valuable networking opportunities, the Summit highlighted the power of collaboration in driving meaningful outcomes for Defence and Australia.

Launch of the 2026 Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy

A defining moment of ADSTAR 2026 was the launch of the 2026 Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence the Hon Richard Marles at the opening plenary. Featuring the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Hon Penny Wong, Chief of the Defence Force Admiral Mark Hammond AO RAN and Chief Defence Scientist Tanya Monro AC, the plenary has set the benchmark for the summit and established ADSTAR as Australia's leading forum for defence collaboration.

The Strategy marks a significant milestone for Australia's innovation ecosystem and reinforces the critical role of collaboration in delivering future capability through six IS&T priorities. These priorities will guide future investment, research, experimentation, and capability development across Australia's Defence ecosystem.

International Collaboration

Collaboration was a consistent theme throughout the Summit, with delegates sharing perspectives on how nations can work together to address shared security challenges, accelerate innovation, and build interoperable capabilities together. The sessions highlighted the critical role international partnerships play in maintaining Australia's strategic asymmetric advantage and capability delivery at speed.

Thank you to the ecosystem

ADSTAR is not possible without the contribution of our speakers, attendees, partners, volunteers and the broader IS&T community.

A special thank you to our Summit MC, Rae Johnston and Gala Dinner MC, Adam Spencer, whose energy and insight brought the Summit to life.

Stay connected

The conversations started at ADSTAR 2026 will continue to shape capability development, strengthen partnerships, and drive innovation long into the future. Stay informed with the latest developments:

Let's continue Delivering More, Together.

DSTO - Defence Science & Technology Organisation published this content on August 10, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 13, 2026 at 07:33 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]