The 2017 Independent Intelligence Review (IIR) identified a number of challenges facing Australia’s intelligence enterprise over the coming decade. These included the increasing complexity of the geostrategic environment, broadening scope of national security and intelligence missions, rapid pace of scientific and technological change and high levels of innovation investment by other nations. To meet these challenges the Review recommended, among a number of other recommendations, a more systematic approach to leveraging science and technology.
To enable the National Intelligence Community to better leverage emerging science and technology the following nine challenges have been identified as being the priority areas for engagement with the research and innovation sectors.