Six early-stage businesses have enlisted in an inaugural South Australian scaleup program for space companies.

UniSA’s Australian Centre for Business Growth (AUCBG) in collaboration with the Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC) will deliver the Growth Ramp space pathway – an innovative six-month scale-up program set to fast-track the long-term growth and success of space companies.

Owners, CEOs and Managing Directors of start-up space companies AICRAFT, ESpy Ocean, HEX20, Orbital Blue, ResearchSat and Robinson Aerospace Systems will spend an intensive six-months collaborating, learning, expanding their networks and ultimately growing their businesses through an immersive learning and mentoring program.

The program is supported by the South Australian Government through the South Australian Space Industry Centre as part of the Venture Catalyst Space Program, which has been running since 2018.

Minister for Defence and Space Industries Stephen Mullighan says the high-quality of local space companies joining the inaugural program is another encouraging sign for the state’s space sector.

“There is huge opportunity for SA startup companies in the space industry and this program gives them a boost towards growing their business substantially in the future,” Minister Mullighan says.

Start-ups face significant challenges on their journey to becoming fully-fledged, sustainable, growth companies. The targeted program looks to break the barriers to entry and aims to arm company leaders with the tools needed for long-term success.

Space startups looking to scale up, including those completing the ICC’s Venture Catalyst Space Program, were eligible for a fully funded place in the Growth Ramp space pathway program.

For more information about the Growth Ramp space pathway, visit the AUCBG website.