South Australian Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund – round 3 opening soon!

The South Australian Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund supports the development of innovative South Australian space capability.

Applications for the third round of the South Australian Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund open on Tuesday 23 September 2025.

The fund was established in 2024 to support the rapid transition of space technology into operational use while growing the South Australian space ecosystem.

The fund supports projects that focus on proof-of-concept or delivery of space capability and have a clear commercial pathway.

Two grants of $150,000 each will be available to South Australian start-ups and small to medium enterprises. The funds must be matched by a co-contribution from applicants (cash and in-kind) to support projects that focus on proof-of-concept or delivery of space capability and have a clear commercial pathway. Key thematic areas are:

  • Space for terrestrial resources
  • Space for agriculture
  • Space for emergencies and emergency services
  • Space for health

Applications for the Fund open on Tuesday 23 September 2025 and close at 11:59pm on Sunday 2 November 2025 (ACDT).

Information relating to eligibility criteria and FAQs can be found below.

An information session will be held on Tuesday 23 September. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend to learn more about the grant application and selection process.

  • Project led by a South Australian-based start-up or small to medium enterprise (SME)
  • 1:1 matched funding (cash and in-kind), i.e. $1 Fund to $1 provided by project participants
  • Clear commercial pathway identified and defined

A maximum of 10% of the grant funding is available for project partners based outside of South Australia.

Who is eligible?

Proposals can involve multiple organisations, Australian and international, however, the Lead Organisation must be a South Australian start-up or small to medium enterprise (SME).

What is the maximum number of participants a proposal can have?
There is no maximum number of organisations that can partner in a project application.

Can a lead applicant partner with interstate or international organisations and universities?
Yes, the lead applicant can partner with industry and/or universities in other Australian states or territories or international.

What is the matched funding requirement?
Matched 1:1 funding is required of up to $150,000 per application. In-kind contributions will be accepted, however a minimum of 10% must be contributed as cash. Examples of in-kind contributions include staff time, use of specialised equipment and resources.

Does the total Fund amount include GST?
No, the Funding amount is exclusive of GST.

Who owns the IP generated?
Ownership of the Intellectual Property (IP) developed using the funds will be retained by the successful applicant. Project team partners are encouraged to discuss background and foreground IP arrangements early in the proposal development process.

How is an SME defined for this Fund?
For the purpose of this Fund, an SME is defined in accordance with the Australian Bureau of Statistics definition. This defines an SME as an organisation with less than 200 full-time equivalent employees.

Can my organisation be involved in multiple proposals?
Yes, organisations can be involved in multiple proposals. However, individual organisations can only be the lead applicant on one proposal. They can participate as a partner in other applications.

Funded Projects

Since 2024, the fund has successfully completed two rounds, providing funding to three South Australian projects each in collaboration with an international partner.

Round 1 Funded Projects (2024)

The inaugural round of the South Australian Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund was open from April to May 2024.

Two grants of up to $100,000 were available for the first round of the Fund, matched by a co-contribution from applicants.

The two successful recipients were announced in September 2024.

Project lead: Safety from Space
Partner/s: NASA, The Mars Society (US and Australian arms), SmartSat CRC, Flinders University and UniSA.

Grant amount: $100,000

Project description:

The Lunar Search and Rescue (LunaSAR) project will trial advanced satellite communications (SATCOM) for future astronaut search and rescue operations on the surface of the Moon. The LunaSAR system is designed to be lighter and more reliable than current devices on the market, with a longer battery life.

The project will be conducted in collaboration with NASA, The Mars Society (US and Australian arms) and several Australian partners including SmartSat CRC, UniSA and Flinders University.

A successful trial could pave the way for a unique Australian contribution into NASA’s Artemis Program as well have applications for emergency communication in remote areas on Earth.

Project lead: AICRAFT

Partner: Guerin Technologies, India

Grant amount: $100,000

Project description:

The ‘Leoflect’ project, combines AICRAFT’s advanced edge computing system with a lightweight, ultra-compact, reflector array antenna from India’s Guerin Technologies.

This will create a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload – a type of radar used to create detailed images of the Earth’s surface – that has applications in areas such as agriculture, forestry, glacier monitoring, maritime surveillance and Defence intelligence.

‘Leoflect’ will be lighter and smaller than other solutions on the market and use advanced AI models to deliver power-efficient, high-speed data processing and analysis on orbit – a solution that is light-years ahead of existing technologies.

Round 2 Funded Project (2025)

The second round of the South Australian Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund was open from October 2024 to February 2025.

One grant of up to $320,000 was available this round, matched by a co-contribution from applicants.

The successful recipient was announced in April 2025.

Project lead: entX
Partner/s: ispace Inc (Japan)

Grant amount: $200,000

Project description:

The project will see entX collaborate with Japan’s leading international lunar exploration company, ispace, to fast-track the commercialisation of their prototype Radioisotope Heating Unit (RHU).

The RHU is a breakthrough device designed to protect spacecraft from the extreme cold of the lunar night, extending mission lifespans and offering a safer, cost-effective heat source.

The partnership will see the technology further developed and tested, with the intention of bringing it to the market.

Enquiries

For any queries, email spaceoffice@sa.gov.au.

Please include ‘South Australian Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund – (nature of the enquiry)’ in the subject line. A response will be provided within three business days.