Defence capabilities are tightly bound with technology. However, governments are notoriously slow at implementing change, while nations constantly face a myriad of new threats.

Fortunately, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States all recognize the need for rapid technological integration in their defence sectors. They’ve formed the AUKUS partnership which includes a technology free trade agreement.

Why Change is So Important

Regrettably, most countries are risk-adverse when it comes to their defence acquisition system and their capability to develop new tactics. Since governments are also slow to make decisions they are often unable to proactively and actively address threats.

Even though governments realize things must change, this can’t be accomplished without rethinking their approach to this ever-growing range of threats.

How Governments Are Approaching The Challenge

The focus is now on a simpler, streamlined acquisition system that focuses on speed to capability and value for money, because it provides a strategic edge. This often involves outside partners, such as EarlyBirds.

Connecting Nations to Innovators

Sovereign nations greatly benefit from the collaborative nature of EarlyBirds open innovation ecosystem. It connects innovators, early adopters, and subject matter experts enabling countries so they can find the best possible technologies for their needs.

Fortunately, EarlyBirds proven track record of accelerating ‘Speed to Capability’ for numerous Fortune 500 customers makes them perfectly suited to the challenge. They identify and propose cutting-edge technological solutions to accelerate change and enhance capabilities efficiently and effectively.

Upskilling Human Resources

The AUKUS partnership highlighted the need for upskilling workers and advancing current industrial bases. For instance, Australian contractors now train in US shipyards.

However, upskilling must also occur within all aspects of technology. Fortunately, EarlyBirds is perfectly positioned in this regard. They can help defence rapidly upskill and develop state-of-the-art technologies.

Research and Development Support

Research and Development is at the heart of defence technology. Luckily, EarlyBirds offers vital support.

By leveraging its extensive network of experts and innovators AUKUS countries can remain at the forefront of defence technology. The EarlyBirds platform provides access to the best technologies and innovations available from AUKUS countries.

What Sets EarlyBirds Apart

EarlyBirds is a leader in open innovation. They won the honour of the Most Innovative B2B Startups Innovation Platform at the Global Excellence Awards in 2022. In both 2023 and 2024, they won the Global Open Innovation Platform of the Year too. That’s on top of a long list of accolades including mention in the Australian Business Journal and The Silicon Review.

Furthermore, EarlyBirds commitment to rapid innovation aligns with the AUKUS goal of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region through advanced defence capabilities.

EarlyBirds Defence Capabilities Pathways

EarlyBirds realizes no two nations have the same needs. Consequently, they offer a variety of methods for Defence to access a diverse range of advanced technologies and talent. All provide the following benefits:

• Rapid innovation
• Connections to the best Subject Matter Experts, innovators, and talent available
• Simplified process

EarlyBirds Skill Identification Program

The skill identification program offers potential solutions to defence so they can find and retain the best in the current talent pool. The program is overseen by experts with a high level of credibility and experience that benefits all parties.

The program provides actionable data-driven recommendations fuelled by cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and predictive analytics.

By doing a deep dive into the necessary skill sets, defence organisations can find those with technical and managerial expertise to take them to the next level.

EarlyBirds Innovation Ecosystem

Our award-winning Innovation Ecosystem allows both innovation and strategic thinking in all areas of defence, whatever the technical or organisational challenge or potential opportunity defence organisations want to explore.

We unite Innovators, Early Adopters and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to fuel rapid innovative adoption and organisational evolution. Early Adopters are leaders eager to identify new and disruptive technologies. They want to seize opportunities, solve challenges, or create new products and services.

Our Ecosystem has a data pool of over 5.0 million global innovations across many industries with solutions that may already address your defence organisations’ challenges. Alternatively, organisations can list their challenges and request solutions from innovators.

EarlyBirds Ecosystem Maps

EarlyBirds offers Ecosystem Maps to help organizations address pressing issues. Each contains startups, scaleups, and mature companies involved in specific themes and sub-themes so organisations can plot a path towards innovation. The maps also track numerous daily and historical news and media articles from across the world.

EarlyBirds Explorer Program

The Explorer Program is tailored towards those who need innovation as a service to supplement existing innovation programs, or to conduct innovation projects when required. It is designed to speed up the process of technological innovation for the organisation as a service.

The Explorer Program includes several features including quarterly and monthly innovation days; regular webinars to help stimulate innovation in the organisation; a focus on types of innovations; a platform enterprise license; and a nominated SME for the business.

EarlyBirds Challenger Program

The Challenger Program focuses on a single organisational or technical challenge. It looks for the most relevant innovators that meet your organisational, technical, and risk requirements.

The program is run by an EarlyBirds’ Subject Matter Expert who identifies your key issues. The SME then searches the data pool to identify and curate options for further evaluation. The most suitable option is chosen and the SME drafts a roadmap of next steps, POC, trial, or implementation.

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EarlyBirds invites innovators, defence experts, and industry leaders to explore the opportunities presented by the AUKUS partnership and to contribute to a collaborative effort set to redefine defence innovation.

Please register at https://earlybirds.io/ or request a consultation if you are unsure of which of our offerings best suits your needs. We use an individualized approach to ensure you find the best possible solutions.

Our experience extends to the Food Industry, Retail, Healthcare, Operations & Maintenance, Manufacturing, Finance & Insurance, Energy, Education, Cybersecurity, Sovereign Nations, the Public Sector, and many other areas.

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