Technology Converging for Innovation in the Space Sector
Open innovation is transforming the $314B global space sector and Australia is positioned to benefit. Traditionally the domain of nation states, space as a sector is proactively engaging other industries for technological advances. The opportunity for Australia is to fully leverage competitive advantages in converging technologies for Automation, Remote Operations, Satellite and Digital Communications, Simulation, Data Sciences and AI.
Leaders from Western Australia’s major economic sectors came together last week through the Quantum Technology Exchange initiative (QuantumTX) to discuss how to empower collaboration, emerging businesses, commercialisation and job creation around the expanding space industry.
The event comes on the heels of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s visit to NASA where he signed a deal committing $150 million to working with NASA on their Artemis mission to Mars. The deal was accompanied by the announcement of aspirations to triple the size of the Australian space sector by 2030, creating 20,000 jobs.
In his opening remarks Curtin University Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chris Moran, said the $150 million boost to Australia’s space budget would provide an opportunity for WA to stake its place in the space sector. “Over the last two years we’ve seen Australia dramatically reposition itself in its relationship with the global space sector. I’m not sure any of us could have quite predicted the rate at which the Australian community, the scientific community and the political community have taken up the excitement of the ownership simply by declaring we are going to have an Australian space agency."
This event was led by innovation consultants Atomic Sky, Curtin University and Curtin University's Space Science and Technology Centre (SSTC). It included expert talks from Chief Scientist of Western Australia and Australian Space Agency Advisory Board Member, Professor Peter Klinken; Astrogeologist Prof. Gretchen Benedix; Curtin University Space Science & Technology Centre and an expert multi-sector panel comprising Prof. Alan Bye, Gary Hale, Dr Kate Brookes and Renae Sayers.
Keynote speaker Professor Klinken reitterated the view that in the last 24 months there had been a massive interest in space and an extraordinary level of excitement had emerged in a short space in time.
“Western Australia is positioned perfectly to capitalise on the growth of the space sector. We have to grasp these opportunities to utilise exciting new technologies which are applicable across different sectors. Automation, data analytics, AI and other technologies transcend all areas of strengths in this State, from mining to oil and gas, agriculture, medicine, the environment and the space sector. I am delighted that the Quantum Technology Exchange specifically addresses how these powerful, technologies can be applied through small businesses to improve and diversify the State’s economy and create the jobs of the future.” Chief Scientist of Western Australia and Australian Space Agency Advisory Board Member, Professor Peter Klinken AC.
QuantumTX Founder, Peter Rossdeutscher, remarked, “The potential for job creation is immense, leveraging aligned solutions from Australia’s core sectors into the space sector opportunity. The challenge is capturing this potential by ensuring collaboration across companies and sectors that tend to deep dive within their own industry.
Quantum Technology Exchange is a bridge for solving similar problems in different industries and forming cross-sector collaboration. The QuantumTX leadership events pull together experts from the space, mining, energy, agriculture and defence industries; whilst the engagement program facilitates engagement for entrepreneurs, small businesses and research commercialisation.”
The next QuantumTX event is November 7th and focuses on Space, Technology, Resources and Australia. Key note speaker Minister Kelly will be followed by an expert panel from Roy Hill mining, Fugro Remote Systems, Woodside Energy, NERA (National Energy Resources Australia) and the 2019 WA Scientist of the Year.
The commercial innovation engagement program will run from January through to May 2020, targeting later stage companies that may be working with large organisations but whose technology has applications in another sector that can grow into the space sector. Participating companies will be provided mentoring, exposure to corporate producers, technologies divisions and the people who work there.
Contact innovate@atomicsky.com.au for more information
Thank you to Curtin University for hosting the event for the help from Renae Sayers, Michelle Mok and Justin Sudmeyer.