South Australia will boast a strong presence at Indo Pacific 2022, with more than 50 high-profile companies, research and education providers on board to demonstrate the state’s expertise in defence and naval shipbuilding during the three-day event.

A broad range of SMEs and primes will be the centrepiece of The South Australia – The Defence State stand, which also highlights the state’s education sector, with TAFE SA and the state’s three universities, The University of Adelaide, Flinders University and the University of South Australia, featuring on the stand.

South Australia’s leading organisation for fostering defence-research collaborations, the Defence Innovation Partnership, will also have a presence, showcasing the state’s defence research credentials.

This year marks the seventh Indo Pacific Defence SA has attended with local industry, with the state’s presence growing from 12 exhibitors in 2010 to more than 50 in 2022 – making it South Australia’s largest defence industry delegation.

Defence SA Chief Executive Richard Price said this powerful show of know-how demonstrates the state’s capability and readiness for upcoming naval shipbuilding and defence programs.

“South Australia is the Defence State and the nation’s home of complex naval ship and submarine building and sustainment activities for the next 40 years and beyond,” Richard said.

“With more than $40 billion in maritime projects due to occur in South Australia, our defence industry is primed and ready to play a crucial role in bringing these projects to life.

“Indo Pacific is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the cutting-edge capabilities and expertise of the South Australian defence sector and for local industry to connect with world-class defence suppliers in the global supply chain for current and upcoming naval shipbuilding and defence projects.”

Adelaide-based computing solutions company APC Technology, which engineers, manufactures and tests defence-ready equipment locally, will return to The Defence State stand at Indo Pacific for the seventh time.

According to Managing Director Scott Begbie, the company is eager to reconnect with primes, SMEs and defence personnel, and learn how to best support Defence in a post-pandemic future.

“Pacific is an ideal platform to promote our capabilities and how we can help overcome the significant issue of lagging offshore supply chains,” Scott said.

“The event provides an opportunity to discuss the impact and lessons learnt across the sector during the pandemic and discover how we can support defence moving forward.

“After nearly two years of minimal face-to-face, I genuinely believe there is a buzz around attending Indo Pacific.

“Creating global partnerships is a key strategy we are fully committed to and continue to pursue. In 2022, we already have plans in place to grow our strategic alliances in the UK with existing and new partnerships.”

South Australian defence manufacturing company Mincham will also join The Defence State stand in an effort to strengthen current relationships, build new ones and discover future business opportunities, according to Managing Director Darryl Mincham.

“Indo Pacific is an important event in the calendar that allows us to catch-up with colleagues, whether customer, partner, or supplier,” Darryl said.

“Mincham is currently working on a range of projects within the maritime domain, ranging from radar part manufacturing, unmanned system design/manufacture, and other through life support.

“It’s no secret South Australia has been fortunate in developing critical capability and capacity in the Defence domain, especially maritime. A large portion of this can be attributed to the state having a long-term strategy for growth in the sector, one that has been and continues to be well supported by the collaboration of industry and government, led primarily by the Defence Teaming Centre and Defence SA.”

Visit the South Australia – The Defence State stand in Hall 3, Stand 3L6 at Indo Pacific 2022.

For information about The Defence State exhibitors, the stand floorplan and updates during the event, download the Defence State app today.

Find out more and view a full list of exhibitors on the South Australia – the Defence State stand.