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About us
Our Vision
Our vision at AIC Connect is to become a key player in the Australian Defence industry, specifically focusing on empowering small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
We strive to create the environment where SMEs thrive and play a critical role in advancing Australia's Defence capabilities.
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AIC Connect’s mission is to bring as many Australian SMEs into the Defence Industrial Base to support a more resilient and capable Defence force.
Our nation requires an unprecedented build up of our industrial base to support our Defence capabilities, and we are helping the backbone of the Australian economy - small and medium businesses - build up their capability and capacity to support this high growth industry.
Our Story
AIC Connect was founded in 2022 when Dan
de Vries (founder), was working for an SME with aspirations to become a significant supplier in the Defence supply chain. Having worked within several Defence Primes prior to that, the pain-points of both types of business became quite evident.
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This experience was the catalyst for the launch of AIC Connect, a business dedicated to supporting the interactions between 'the big end of town' and the smaller players in the Defence industry. Seeing a common disconnect with how these businesses interacted, Dan sought to bring clarity and support to create an environment where higher levels of success could be achieved by all stakeholders.
This concept aligned neatly with the federal government's push to develop the Australian industrial base to support Defence's current and future capability needs.
With broad experience within Defence Industry, Dan and his team can support your business at any stage in the journey with Defence work.
AIC Connect will support you in navigating the complicated, and sometimes frustrating processes involved in supplying products and services into Defence programs.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower and guide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through their journey into and growth within the Defence sector.
Leveraging our deep industry expertise, we simplify the complexities of Defence contracts, tendering, and compliance to unlock opportunities for growth and collaboration. We are committed to being the bridge between your business and the Defence industry, fostering a mutually beneficial ecosystem that supports the federal government's vision for a strong and self-reliant Defence Industrial Base.