The Victorian Government is providing $1 million in funding to help establish a new Space Industry Hub at RMIT that will connect local business and research to global opportunities in space technology.
The Victorian Government’s $1 million is being matched by $1 million from SmartSat CRC, significant technical and training support from Amazon Web Services (AWS), and industry engagement backing from FrontierSI.
In addition to hosting the Victorian node of the SmartSat CRC – a national consortium of industry and research organisations developing game-changing space technologies – the Hub will establish several flagship research projects aimed at connecting local capability with booming space industry markets both here and abroad.
RMIT Deputy Vice-Chancellor for STEM and Vice President Digital Innovation, Professor Aleksandar Subic, said the Hub would primary focus on helping local companies develop new technologies, skills and capabilities for a wide range of industries using satellite data.
“The RMIT Space Industry Hub will be a launch pad and an industrial solutions incubator to support collaboration and innovation for Victoria’s space industry growth,” Professor Subic said.
“At the core of this growth are digital technologies and leveraging the state’s strong capabilities in advanced manufacturing.”
AWS Country Director for Public Sector in Australia and New Zealand, Iain Rouse, said the Hub would provide affordable access to real-time satellite data for industry collaborators through the AWS Ground Station, which allows users to control their satellite communications, process data, and scale their operations without having to worry about building or managing ground station infrastructures.
“When space is made accessible and cost-effective, there is no limit to what can be accomplished,” Mr Rouse said.
“AWS is excited to help the Space Industry Hub accelerate their research, innovation, and capability development in space.”
SmartSat CRC’s CEO Andy Koronios, said the investment would help spark innovation and develop technologies to leverage the huge opportunities the space economy offers.
“SmartSat CRC nodes around Australia will provide opportunities for joint projects to leverage national and international space collaborative initiatives such as NASA’s Moon to Mars Exploration Program, UK Space Bridge, state government space industry investments and CRC-P grants,” he said.
FrontierSI’s CEO, Dr Graeme Kernich, said collaborative sector roadmaps were being developed to guide researchers and local industries in how to capitalise on space industry opportunities.
“The Space Industry Hub provides the opportunity to connect Victoria’s world-leading research and solution providers with the challenges and opportunities of the global space sector,” Kernich said.
“We are delighted that this strategic collaboration intends to leverage innovative space technologies into impactful solutions used by industry.”
