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Capability and Technology Demonstrator Program

• CTD Brochure (Note: The CTD Program Office has a new phone number. Please call +61 2 6128 6501 or call us toll free on 1800 647 946)
• The Defence and Industry Policy 2007 
• Defence and Industry Strategic Policy Statement
• Defence 2000: Our Future Defence Force (White Paper)
• Defence Capability Plan

The CTD program was established in 1997 as a result of the Defence Efficiency Review.  The aim of the program was addressed in the Government’s 1998 Defence and Industry Strategic Policy Statement, which stated,

“The Defence Reform Program saw the launch of a CTD program.  The CTD program aims to show ADF users how leading edge technology can be integrated quickly into existing, new, enhanced or replacement high-priority capabilities.”

The CTD program is organisationally located within the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO).  DSTO provides a management office for the CTD Program and contract management for most of the CTD projects.

The CTD program is not a grants program; rather it is a collaborative activity conducted under contract between Defence and industry to deliver a demonstration of the capability potential of new technology.  The program’s emphasis is on technology in Australian industry that is going to provide capability advantages for Defence and allow Australian industry to position itself to provide in-service capabilities and through-life-support.

Experience has reinforced the need for industry to understand both Defence’s capability process and the CTD Program.  To initiate a successful CTD proposal, a company will need to have an appreciation of Defence’s capability priorities, best gained through early discussions with CTD Program Office and Capability Development Group Staff.  Broad guidance on Defence’s capability priorities is incorporated in the advertisement for the opening of each CTD round and is also available through such publications as the public version of the Defence Capability Plan.  Industry briefings also remain an important part of the CTD Program and continue to be conducted both in Canberra and interstate by the CTD Program Office.

Throughout its history the CTD program has proven to be highly successful in its goal of bringing together Defence and industry to work on developing new technologies to demonstrator level.