Why South Australia?
South Australia is The Defence State
South Australia is proudly The Defence State, central to Australia's defence innovation and capability.
With a proven track record of delivering some of the nation's largest and most complex defence projects, the state offers a stable, secure and innovation-driven environment for global investment.
As the home of major naval shipbuilding, advanced aerospace capabilities, cyber and space technologies, deep research capabilities, and a highly skilled workforce, South Australia plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the nation's defence industry.
Defence Strengths
South Australia has strong history of delivering collaborative research and development, dating back to munitions development in the 1920s, the establishment of the Port Wakefield Proof and Experimental Establishment in 1941 and 1946 with the Long Range Weapons Establishment to support the guided weapons facility at the Woomera rocket and missile range.
Today, the state hosts seven of the world's top 10 defence companies and a thriving network of over 400 SMEs, the largest presence of the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) in the country, as well as a critical mass of approximately 7,000 Australian Defence Force personnel.
In addition to this, South Australia is home to critical Defence infrastructure such as Osborne Naval Shipyard and Edinburgh Defence Precinct, plus fundamental test and evaluation assets and training areas.
Learn more about South Australia's defence strengths via the buttons below (links out).
Economic Strengths
South Australia has a strong and diverse industry base, underpinned by a skilled workforce and enabling infrastructure.
Defence projects and research and development activity are major contributors to South Australia's economy. A focus on growing defence-relevant areas such as cyber security, space technologies, advanced materials and autonomous systems continues strengthen the state's economic future.
Economically, South Australia's defence sector has demonstrated the largest growth in the nation, with its contribution increasing by 100% over five years from $977 million (2019-20) to $1.9 billion (2023-24).
The state's skilled defence industry workforce has also seen substantial growth, expanding by 15 per cent and creating an additional 1,300 jobs in South Australia between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 financial years.
This growth reflects the state's strategic investments and its pivotal role in Australia's defence industry, which is set to be further advanced through the trilateral AUKUS partnership.
[Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2023-24 financial year]
Research & Development Strengths
South Australia is home to two thirds of Australia's defence scientists and our research and development strengths across academia, defence and industry, make us well-placed for collaboration and innovations.
On top of the state's key innovation precincts, such as Lot Fourteen, Mawson Lakes and Tonsley Innovation District, each of our world-class universities is home to specialist research and development facilities that play critical roles in strengthening Australia's national security.
South Australia is also home to the Cyber Security Cooporative Research Centre and South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).
The Defence Innovation Partnership is a key enabler to shape the state's innovation ecosystem and ensure that local expertise is connected to Defence's mission, while facilitating vital collaboration.
There's no denying South Australia is the ideal location for business investment, combining low business costs, an exceptional quality of life, a knowledge-based economy, a world-class education system, and a strong defence heritage.
Find out more about investment opportunities by visiting the Department for Trade and Investment.
