Innovation Victoria and Swinburne University of Technology are investing a combined A$1 million in Forward Deployed. The Melbourne-based company builds chemical threat detection systems. Each backer will provide A$500,000 through Innovation Victoria's University Innovation Platform.
Funding details
The investment supports continued development and independent validation of DINGO. DINGO is the company's chemical threat detection platform. The company is progressing toward production-level systems.
Company ties
Forward Deployed was founded partly by Swinburne alumni. CEO Richard Hebden and CTO Alex Barry are two of the company's three co-founders. The company also has a research collaboration with Swinburne focused on autonomous sensing and data processing.
How DINGO works
DINGO brings laboratory-grade chemical detection into operational environments. It combines advanced sensing, field-ready hardware, and real-time software. The platform requires no consumables and can integrate with autonomous systems.
Forward Deployed is initially focused on national security. The company already has contracts in Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Its technology also has potential applications in biosecurity, agriculture, construction, and mining.