SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) has unveiled its first four projects under the SmartSat Victoria Node, investing over $1.1 million towards accelerating growth and building sovereign capability within Victoria’s space innovation ecosystem. 

The investment in the SmartSat Victoria Node, which was launched in 2022 in partnership with the Victorian Government and RMIT University, brings the total investment to SmartSat Nodes to over $10 million. 

  “Australia’s fast-emerging space sector offers a rich opportunity for Victoria. It is positioned to play a leading role in our nation’s space industry, thanks to our state’s strong skills and resources,” SmartSat Victoria Node Director Professor Brian Falzon said. 

“By bridging the gap between research and industry, projects such as these point the way to our space sector’s future. We’re delighted to support projects that have massive potential to reshape the industry and position our state at the forefront of space technology.” 

Check out: New mapping tool showcases UK and Aust space capabilities 

Four projects were selected under the SmartSat Victoria Node and were based on their tangible solutions to real-world problems. The four projects are said to involve tracking satellites and space debris, maintaining waterway health, improving global weather forecasts and enriching the quality and speed of spatial data for infrastructure, land management and disaster response. 

“We’re very excited by these four projects and the opportunity to advance them, thanks to the Victorian Government and our industry partners,” SmartSat CRC CEO Professor Andy Koronios said. 

“Only by bringing together the best of Australian research with industry can we realise the space sector’s growth opportunity.” 

Check out: Australian Government invests $65M into space sector 

Professor Koronios states that SmartSat Nodes help match businesses interested in space services with Australian R&D capacity and support projects demonstrating innovative new technologies to commercialise. 

“Projects such as these plant the seeds of space technology innovation and will be instrumental in helping Australia build a viable space sector,” he said. 

“Through SmartSat Nodes, we aim to build the capability of businesses providing access to space and space-based services and help them validate prototype technologies and algorithms to make them commercial-ready.” 

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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