South Australian-based satellite communications company Myriota is among the first tenants in Adelaide’s new innovation neighbourhood, Lot Fourteen.
The move coincides with 50 new jobs being created over the next couple of years for the company, as it makes use of the facilities, services and infrastructure developed as part of the new innovation hub, according to CEO and co-founder of Myriota Dr Alex Grant.
“We are in a phase of rapid expansion and set to create over 50 new high-tech jobs in the next couple of years,” he said.
“Moving to Lot Fourteen with access to its world-class facilities, in an exceptional location that will be home to high-tech innovators, scale-ups and multinationals, makes complete sense to us.”
Founded in 2015 to commercialise technology generated at the University of South Australia, Myriota has developed an ultra-low-cost satellite Internet of Things service.
Their cutting-edge technology makes IoT possible for a wide range of remote industries including agriculture, asset tracking, utilities and defence. Current deployments include asset tracking and monitoring, agricultural water monitoring, environmental monitoring and more.
In 2017, Myriota secured a contract under the Federal Government’s Next Generation Technologies Fund to develop the world’s first Fight Recorder, a data recorder worn by soldiers on the battlefield.
It also raised $19.4 million in venture capital investment, including Boeing HorizonX Ventures, to launch nanosatellites to orbit 500 kilometres above Earth, as part of an IoT network.
Adelaide’s former Royal Adelaide Hospital site is being transformed into an innovation precinct to attract entrepreneurs, start-ups, corporations, mentors, researchers and investors.
The seven-hectare site will include space for defence, cyber security, artificial intelligence and space companies. It will drive jobs growth in these fast-growing industries, as well as blockchain, robotics and related technologies, with around 1000 people expected to be working at Lot Fourteen by late 2019, with more than 40 businesses, including aerospace, technology and innovation giant Lockheed Martin, recently announcing tenancy at the site.
Defence SA chief executive Richard Price welcomed news of Myriota’s relocation to Lot Fourteen.
“Lot Fourteen will be the perfect place where highly skilled talent and agile start-ups and companies, like Myriota, can thrive and grow,” he said.
“It’s fantastic to see such a deep level of interest from start-ups and companies working in high-growth industries, like space and defence, wanting to be part of this innovation neighbourhood that will nurture talent, support new ventures and create jobs.”
“Creating an environment that supports entrepreneurship, innovation and research capabilities in South Australia is important to our growth and success in these key industries.”
