HITIQ (ASX: HIQ) has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent with two Congressionally funded US research bodies, marking the company’s push into the Defence sector with its PROTEQT sensor technologies.
The agreement is paired with the appointment of Aaron Bell, formerly a full-time Lieutenant Colonel in the Australian Army, as Strategic Military Advisor.
The collaboration brings together the University of Southern Mississippi Sport and Tactical Athlete Research Lab (USM STAR) and the University of Mississippi National Center for Tactical Readiness (UM NCTR). The initial focus is measuring head impact exposure and head-neck kinematics in military and tactical training environments using PROTEQT D-MAX and PROTEQT iMG technologies.
Importantly, the Letter of Intent is non-binding. Study scopes, funding, data rights, publication rights and any future formal agreements remain subject to separate negotiation. For investors, the significance lies in positioning PROTEQT D-MAX as a Defence-specific solution, opening a potential new market vertical beyond sport.
Preferred partner status with Congressionally funded research centres
The Letter of Intent establishes a framework for research collaboration between the three parties. Both partners bring substantial credibility to the arrangement.
USM STAR is a laboratory with more than a decade of Congressionally funded research focused on improving warfighter safety and performance. UM NCTR is a Congressionally funded centre dedicated to advancing the health, performance and readiness of military, first responder and tactical personnel.
The intended scope extends beyond the initial focus area. The collaboration is designed to support broader Defence research activities, with the parties also intending to explore potential future Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) with US military stakeholders, subject to relevant approvals and formal agreements.
The proposed collaboration scope includes:
-
Head impact exposure and head-neck kinematics measurement
-
Firearms training environments
-
Special operations environments
-
Potential future CRADAs (subject to formal agreements)
HITIQ has been identified as preferred partner for this collaboration, though this represents a research and evaluation pathway rather than a signed commercial contract.
Dr Chip Wade, Executive Director, National Center for Tactical Readiness (NCTR)
“This collaboration provides an opportunity to evaluate innovative sensor technologies in tactical training environments and contribute to a growing body of research focused on understanding head impact exposure, human performance and warfighter readiness.”
When big ASX news breaks, our subscribers know first
Strategic military appointment: Aaron Bell
Alongside the research collaboration, HITIQ has appointed Aaron Bell as Strategic Military Advisor. He is an aeronautical engineer, technology executive and former full-time Australian Army officer with more than 25 years’ experience across military operations, aviation engineering, strategic planning and technology commercialisation.
Bell’s credentials span aviation and operational programmes within the Australian Army:
-
25+ years’ Defence and engineering experience
-
Chief Engineer — Army Black Hawk, Kiowa and Chinook fleets
-
Chief of Plans (J5), Joint Task Force 633
-
ADF Gold Commendation and US Meritorious Service Medal
As Chief of Plans (J5) for Joint Task Force 633, Bell supported Australia’s operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the broader Middle East. In his advisory role, he will support HITIQ’s Defence engagement, capability development and procurement strategies, while providing engineering-level guidance on data optimisation, systems integration and ruggedisation considerations relevant to military deployment environments.
Aaron Bell, Strategic Military Advisor, HITIQ
“Defence organisations globally are placing increasing emphasis on technologies that can better protect and monitor the health and performance of military personnel. HITIQ has developed a unique capability with potential application across Defence training, force protection and personnel readiness initiatives.”
What this means: understanding the Defence opportunity
For readers unfamiliar with the technology, PROTEQT D-MAX applies HITIQ’s validated instrumented mouthguard sensor technology in a military-specific configuration. An instrumented mouthguard is a wearable device fitted with sensors that measure head impact exposure and head-neck kinematics. In this configuration, it is designed to monitor head impact exposure and blast-related events within Defence environments.
Why does this matter? There is a growing global focus on warfighter safety, force protection and personnel readiness. Measuring how much impact and blast exposure personnel experience during training could support efforts to better protect and monitor their health.
For investors, the collaboration builds the research evidence base and stakeholder relationships needed for potential Defence adoption. This represents a new vertical alongside HITIQ’s existing deployment across elite and community sport.
HITIQ biosensor commercial deployment spans four distinct verticals from a single validated hardware core, with military trials pending across multiple global jurisdictions alongside the company’s expanding sport and retail channels.
| Development | Detail | Status | Investor Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter of Intent (USM STAR & UM NCTR) | Research collaboration framework | Non-binding | Opens Defence research pathway |
| PROTEQT D-MAX | Military-specific sensor configuration | In development/evaluation focus | Diversifies beyond sport |
| Strategic Military Advisor | Aaron Bell appointed | Active | Adds Defence procurement expertise |
| Future CRADAs | US military stakeholders | Intended/exploratory | Potential formal engagement pathway |
Strengthening the Defence commercialisation strategy
Together, the US Defence research collaboration and the Bell appointment strengthen HITIQ’s Defence commercialisation strategy. The stated objective is establishing PROTEQT D-MAX as a Defence-specific solution for monitoring head impact exposure and blast-related events within military and tactical training environments.
The company believes these initiatives further position it to engage Defence stakeholders, support technology evaluation activities and progress long-term Defence opportunities for PROTEQT D-MAX.
Next steps remain exploratory. No specific timelines or funding arrangements have been disclosed, and future formal agreements are yet to be negotiated.
For investors exploring how HITIQ is funding the manufacturing and R&D scale-up needed to support multi-sector deployment, our full explainer on HITIQ’s Victorian Government grant covers the milestone-contingent structure, the $4.9 million co-investment commitment and the timeline running through to 2031.
Earl Eddings, Executive Chairman, HITIQ
“The establishment of this US research collaboration and the appointment of Aaron Bell represent important milestones in HITIQ’s Defence strategy. USM STAR and UM NCTR bring significant expertise and research capability in military and tactical readiness, and their identification of HITIQ as preferred partner for this collaboration is a strong endorsement of our technology and Defence-focused development approach.”
About HITIQ
HITIQ Limited (ASX: HIQ) is an evidence-based brain care technology company deploying advanced sensor and intelligence technologies for the detection, monitoring and management of head impact exposure.
Its flagship PROTEQT instrumented mouthguard is deployed across elite and community sport internationally. PROTEQT D-MAX applies the same validated sensor technology in a military-specific configuration designed to monitor head impact exposure and blast-related events within Defence environments.
Don’t Miss the Next Healthcare & Defence Tech Breakthrough on ASX
Big News Blast delivers FREE breaking ASX healthcare and technology news directly to your inbox within minutes of release, complete with in-depth analysis already done for you. Join 20,000+ active subscribers who stay ahead of the market the moment announcements drop. Click the “Free Alerts” button at Big News Blast to get started today.