NSW space industry to increase competitiveness by collaborating with research institutions
The NSW Government has announced a Space Industry Development Strategy that identifies fostering collaboration across the industry and with the research community as a key strategic theme to increase industry competitiveness.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said industries from the cities and regions would have the support of the NSW Government to ensure the state leads the innovative sector.
“Nearly every industry is looking to increase its output and improve its efficiency through space-enabled technologies,” Mr Ayres said.
“Space is not just about what’s up there, it’s also about what’s down here. These technologies are used in robotics, agriculture, energy, communications, transportation, aviation, advanced manufacturing, information technology and construction. They are in the technology we all use in our daily lives.”
The $5 million Space Strategy will include the delivery of a National Space Industry Hub, located in the Sydney Innovation and Technology Precinct.
Strengthening collaboration across the industry and with the research community is outlined as one of the five key strategic themes in the NSW Space Development Strategy.
NSW benefits from a well-established space-related R&D infrastructure centred around its world-class universities of which seven are members of the NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN).
A consortium of nine world-renowned research universities across NSW and ACT, the NSSN brings together expertise in academia, industry and Government to position NSW as a global leader in smart sensing innovation.
From creating a ultra-sensitive space camera that allows for daytime imaging of objects in low earth orbit to developing planetary rovers and Earth observation satellite systems, the NSSN research universities are at the forefront of smart sensing R&D, exploring new frontiers in remote sensing, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), robotics, autonomous systems, and Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT).
According to the NSW Space Industry Development Strategy, NSW space businesses have the scope to increase their collaboration with other businesses and research institutions. The NSW Government will encourage partnerships and knowledge sharing between industry, government and research institutions relating to technological advances, market trends and business opportunities.
Established with funding from the NSW Government through the Office of the Chief Scientist & Engineer, the NSSN brings together the world-class research taking place in NSW and ACT universities with government agencies and industry to develop innovative solutions to critical challenges in health, energy, resources, manufacturing, the environment, transport, agriculture and space.
The NSSN member universities include Macquarie University, University of New South Wales (UNSW), University of Newcastle, University of Canberra, University of Sydney, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Western Sydney University, University of Wollongong and Australian National University (ANU).
To learn more about the NSSN R&D capabilities in space and other industries, click here.