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The Defence and Security Institute plays a key role in the Australian capabilities essential to our nation’s defence, security, and prosperity.

We are committed to ensuring that the University of Adelaide builds and maintains the research skills, infrastructure, commercialisation and knowledge transfer abilities required to continue contributing to the defence of our nation.

About DSI

Primary point of contact for defence research and education.

About DSI

Research

Vital contributions to sovereign capability in Defence research.

View our research areas

Workforce

Defence as a career path to meet future security challenges.

Work with us

Institutes & Centres

Transdisciplinary work with multiple perspectives.

Institutes & Centres

Defence Trailblazer

Concept to sovereign capability.

Defence Trailblazer

Latest news from the Institute

Mitigating misinformation on social media

Using innovative AI tools and ‘big data’ analysis, University of Adelaide researchers are protecting the public against harmful online influence.

Read more about Mitigating misinformation on social media

Defence and National Security Research Scholarships

The Defence and National Security Research Scholarship is specifically targeted to researchers looking to undertake a PhD, Master of Philosophy or Master of Research in fields relating to defence, national security, and space. Expressions of interest will be open from September 1 to 21 September 2025.

Read more about Defence and National Security Research Scholarships

Researcher Meet-Ups with tour of Behaviour-Brain-Body Research Centre

DSI Launches Researcher Meet-Ups with a tour of the Behaviour-Brain-Body Research Centre at UniSA’s Magill campus.

Read more about Researcher Meet-Ups with tour of Behaviour-Brain-Body Research Centre

From the Newsroom

9

Jul

Quantum clocks guarantee precise navigation

Optical quantum clocks developed at the University of Adelaide have been proven to out-perfom GPS navigation systems by many orders of magnitude.

18

Nov

Thales Australia and University of Adelaide partner to explore long-range counter UAS laser technology

Thales Australia and University of Adelaide partner to explore laser technology.

29

Nov

Undergraduate places support nuclear-powered future

The University of Adelaide has today, Wednesday 29 November, received Federal Government commitment to fund the training of hundreds more domestic undergraduate students to join the defence workforce of the future.

24

Oct

South Australian researchers join forces with global defence consortium

The University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia have joined five leading universities in the United Kingdom and United States to support the AUKUS alliance.

3

Oct

Sovereign radar expertise is focus for new centre

A new Centre at the University of Adelaide for research into high-frequency (HF) radar technology will play a critical role in the nation’s safety and prosperity.

14

Feb

Trailblazer defence program formalised

The Defence Trailblazer for Concept to Sovereign Capability program has taken another step in being formalised with the conditions of grant being finalised and the announcement of the board members.

more...