Sydney’s Tech Central Precinct has opened the National Space Industry Hub at its Eveleigh facility. The hub’s first residents – which include the Space Industry Association of Australia, the NSW Space Research Network, and the NSW Node of the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) – will build on NSW’s space capability to ensure it is the strongest in Australia. The hub’s launch also celebrated the unveiling of Fast Start, an intense six-month mentoring and coaching program aimed at helping companies to commercialise innovative ideas.
Participants in the first cohort include a company that supports space missions by producing advanced silicon solar cells and a company that specialises in predictive scientific modelling software that enhances operational planning for space missions.
The Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, and Minister for Skills and Training stated that guaranteeing a talent pipeline of highly skilled workers was critical to ensuring NSW remains competitive in the space race. He noted that NSW already has an incredible depth of talent in the space industry. However, there is a need to continue to grow this pipeline to ensure the industry thrives.
The Australian Space Agency aims to triple the national space economy from AU$ 4 billion to AU$12 billion and create 20,000 jobs by 2030. NSW is best placed, economically, politically and geographically, to maximise the benefits to business from this new space era.
NSW is a leader in space education and training with 31% of Australian university departments active in space based in the state. Around 30% of people involved in space activities are based in NSW, the largest percentage of any state.
New manufacturing, design and software technologies have reduced barriers to entry into the space sector. They have also ushered in a new era of low-cost satellites and payloads, known as Space 2.0, in which small companies and start-ups can play a larger role.
The NSW government is committed to ensuring that the state’s space industry is well-positioned to benefit from continued rapid growth in international demand for emerging space technologies, the NSW space industry development strategy 2020 states. There are also significant synergies with the defence sector.
The government launched its defence and industry strategy – New South Wales: Strong, smart and connected – in February 2017 to leverage the growing opportunities in the sector. This space industry development strategy (the strategy) aims to maximise opportunities for NSW businesses in space. It focuses on the potential for rapid growth in space start-ups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including increasing collaboration to realise the benefits arising from advances in technology to the wider economy.
The NSW space industry development strategy builds on the efforts of the Commonwealth and NSW governments to grow the space industry, including through their partnership under the Western Sydney City Deal.
The NSW government’s National Space Industry Hub (the Hub) will support the state’s space industry ecosystem and the space testing and manufacturing facilities at the Aerotropolis. It will encourage a vibrant ecosystem of space companies in NSW, and strengthen connections with other industries, government and research institutions. Additionally, the NSW Government is developing the Sydney Innovation and Technology Precinct to cement Sydney’s reputation as the innovation capital of Australia, and transform NSW’s world-leading R&D into globally successful businesses.
These developments will create focal points for the industry, government, the research community, and educational and training organisations to collaborate, innovate and become more globally competitive. Close cooperation with industry and existing programs are required to realise the potential of these initiatives.
