Adelaide has secured the hosting rights for the leading international maritime, air and space technologies defence event – MAST 2024 – becoming the first Southern Hemisphere city to host the event in its 17-year history.
Comprising a number of business gatherings, tradeshows and talent fairs, the three-day event will run from 19-21 November 2024 at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
MAST 2024 is themed ‘Talent, Technologies, Transfer’ and will explore issues of relevance to the Indo-Pacific region, drawing thousands of senior level government, military representatives and researchers from across the global defence community.
High calibre plenary speakers, technical sessions and exhibits will help to foster business opportunities for South Australian companies.
South Australian defence capabilities will be on display with undergraduates in STEM-related fields from local universities to present to delegates.
There will also be an Innovation Hub, providing a platform for Lot Fourteen and Tonsley Innovation District defence and space companies to promote their cutting-edge products and technologies.
A hackathon will be live-streamed from the cyber range at the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre in the heart of Adelaide’s CBD.
With more than 70 per cent of delegates expected to come from outside South Australia, MAST 2024 is expected to provide a major boost for local tourism.
The South Australian Government worked with Business Events Adelaide, the Adelaide Convention Centre and Tourism Australia to present a compelling case against competing Australian and global cities to secure MAST to Adelaide in 2024.
“South Australia’s reputation as the nation’s defence state is reaffirmed with MAST 2024 set to showcase our leading defence capabilities on the global stage. In the face of a rapidly shifting security environment, the South Australian Government is committed to growing the skills and capabilities of our defence industry to meet future defence needs and international partnerships are an important part of addressing this challenge. To host this business event in our region for the first time is an enormous opportunity for our state, the nation and our Indo-Pacific neighbours and we look forward to welcoming the international defence community to Adelaide in 2024.” said SA Premier Peter Malinauskas MP.
“Home to seven of the world’s top ten defence primes, more than 300 defence industry businesses, world-class defence infrastructure and a research community working at the cutting-edge, South Australia is leading the way in strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence capabilities. MAST 2024 offers an important opportunity to bring together policy and decision makers, defence industry and the R&D community to celebrate innovation and share perspectives in global defence policy, operations and future technologies.” said Susan Close Deputy Premier, Minister for Defence and Space Industries.
“There is no doubt that the financial support offered through the Business Events Bid Fund Program helped to bring MAST to the Southern Hemisphere for the first time and it is also ensuring we have a strong pipeline of international business events in Australia. We congratulate Adelaide on the successful bid to host this business event, which is expected to provide a multi-million dollar boost to our visitor economy.” said Tourism Australia Executive General Manager Commercial and Business Events, Robin Mack.
“We thank the South Australian Government for their support and initiative to bring this dynamic event to Adelaide and look forward to an ongoing relationship to regularly unite global defence communities – from sea-bed to space – in Australia’s Defence State. There is no other defence ecosystem in Australia like the “20 Minute City” of Adelaide, where you can meet SME innovators, primes, manufacturers, government officials and military leaders in such close proximity. Our combination of events will speed that process up – all under one roof.” said MAST (Maritime/Air Systems & Technologies) CEO Warren Edge.
