The 2030 Space+Spatial Industry Growth Roadmap has been launched, informing government policymakers to commit to an integrated space and spatial industry to safeguard Australia’s future economic success, societal well-being, and national security. 

The Roadmap, which was developed by a national coalition of leading space and geospatial industry experts, lists nine key objectives that must be met to future-proof the nation’s sovereign capabilities. 

Acting Chair of the 2030 Space+Spatial Steering Committee Glenn Cockerton said the simultaneous growth of the space and spatial industries would profoundly impact the nation’s well-being over the next decade and beyond. 

“The 2030 Space+Spatial Roadmap represents the lasting legacy of Dr Peter Woodgate and aims to help Australia take advantage of a golden opportunity to bring our national space and spatial industries closer together,” he said. 

“The businesses at the intersection of space and spatial have a fundamental role in helping Australia navigate its response to catastrophic bushfires, the impacts of climate change, and the development of recovery plans for the economy following the global pandemic and its impact on our society and the economy.” 

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The 2030 Space+Spatial Industry Growth Roadmap outlines nine key objectives aimed at future-proofing Australia’s sovereign capabilities in the space and spatial industries.  

These objectives include establishing an overarching space and spatial strategy, driving sustainable long-term growth by developing local companies, improving coordination of publicly funded research, building high-tech employment opportunities by enhancing space and spatial skills capacity, building Australia’s sovereign capability in Spatial Digital Twins as a critical national capability, upgrading Australia’s PNT capabilities and technologies, reducing sovereign risks to Australia’s critical infrastructure, systems and data, supporting space and spatial industries to better meet the defence needs of Australia, and maintaining and enhancing Australia’s national map base. 

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Chair of the SIBA-GITA Board Alistair Byrom said the organisation strongly supports the recommendations and looks forward to contributing further to its implementation. 

“The 2030 Space+Spatial Industry Growth Roadmap is to be lauded – the key recommendations, when implemented, will go a long way to delivering the significant growth potential of the space and spatial industries and provide tangible and valuable critical outcomes for Australia,” he said. 

Chief Executive Officer of the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute Tony Wheeler believes that the current technological change presents an opportunity for space and spatial businesses to work together to integrate information workflows faster and cheaper. 

“With the Fourth Industrial revolution upon us, it is driving an economy-wide digital transformation that is changing how we work. It is characterised by knowledge derived from data, networks, and powerful tools – merging human, physical and digital environments,” he said. 

“With a significant component of the space economy being applications, data and information delivered from space and spatial applications are crucial. This will improve the service offerings and productivity overall, which likely positively impact at least 75 per cent of the nation’s economy and is a vital part of our emerging digital economy.” 

The Roadmap was developed from extensive industry-wide consultation over 18 months under the leadership of the late Dr Peter Woodgate. It was officially handed over to the Australian Space Agency today as input to its 2040 Vision Roadmap. 

 Check out how the nation’s sovereign capabilities in the space and spatial industries can be future proofed by downloading the 2030 Space+Spatial Industry Growth Roadmap here.