South Australia is an innovative, collaborative and forward-thinking state with defence and space manufacturing at the heart of our emerging high-tech economy.
Home to a critical mass of defence industry, cutting-edge research and education institutions as well as world-class infrastructure, precincts and advanced manufacturing capability, South Australia is firmly established as the Defence State.
We are also emerging as the centre-of gravity for the nation’s space economy being home to the Australian Space Agency, Australian Mission Control Centre, Australian Space Discovery Centre, headquarters of the SmartSat CRC and more than 100 space companies.
The South Australian Government is supporting advancements in defence and space innovation by identifying and seeking to align local research and development and realise ideas through programs such as the Defence Innovation Partnership (DIP) and its Space Innovation Fund (SIF).
Since it was established in 2018, DIP has unlocked more than $12 million of collaborative defence and space R&D activity across 29 projects through its Collaborative Research Fund (CRF). It has supported a range of research areas and technologies, including virtual reality software development, artificial intelligence, biomechanics and human modelling.
Through the SIF, which supports initiatives such as the Venture Catalyst Space incubator program – the State Government is also supporting promising entrepreneurs and new start-ups to develop and grow innovative or disruptive ideas in the space sector.
A recent CRF example of the cross-sector benefits of innovation is a research collaboration between local universities, industry and Defence that utilises satellite technology to aid in disaster response and support Defence personnel in hazardous environments.
In a further demonstration of the State Government’s commitment to drive defence and space innovation, research and entrepreneurial development, South Australia has invested in a range of collaboration-enabling infrastructure including Lot Fourteen, Line Zero – Factory of the Future at Tonsley Innovation District and the Australian Space Park.
These precincts together with our world-class R&D sector are adding cutting edge capability to the South Australian defence and space ecosystem.
With a culture of entrepreneurship, collaboration and innovation, South Australia’s government, industry and R&D community are committed to working together to build and leverage the state’s capabilities. This combined effort will ensure we are best placed to take advantage of the exciting opportunities ahead.
Watch this space.
