Dear Australian Industry and Academia

The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) is transforming the way breakthrough military solutions are delivered by rapidly translating innovative technologies into capabilities that will help take Defence further, faster. To support this initiative, ASCA is excited to host its second pitch day. As outlined in the Defence Industry Development Strategy, pitch days will allow industry and academia to present their ideas to Defence, allowing for insights into new capabilities and innovations.

This year’s iteration, ASCA Pitch Day 2025, is a Request For Information (RFI) on solutions to Challenge Statements grouped into two themes: Power and Energy and Acoustic Data Collection and Processing. Power and Energy (Theme 1) seeks innovative solutions on energy sources for deployable and fixed sites, and agile operation capabilities. Acoustic Data Collection and Processing (Theme 2) seeks innovative solutions on sensors, edge processing and high-performance computing for data processing.

ASCA invites you to respond to this open RFI by submitting your innovative solution(s) in accordance with the Conditions of RFI. Respondents that submit the most promising solutions, as determined by Defence’s subject matter experts, will be invited to pitch at the Pitch Day 2025 event on 3 November 2025 in Sydney, NSW, coinciding with the Indo-Pacific International Maritime Exposition (4 - 6 November 2025). Subject to the Conditions of RFI, ASCA will arrange and fund travel and accommodation for successful respondents’ attendance at the Pitch Day 2025 event. These successful respondents will be pitching to an audience comprising senior Defence officials, potential investors and wider Defence industry and academia.