The Innovation & Collaboration Centre at the University of South Australia will host the Australian leg of a 24-hour international space competition that will see students, developers and entrepreneurs tap into existing space technology data to design, improve or develop innovative applications for their use.
Held on Friday and Saturday 25-26 May, it will be the first time ActInSpace will take place in Australia and participants will be competing simultaneously with people in cities all over the world.
And with the help of a team of experts, the best ideas will be fast-tracked for development as start-ups, opening up the potential for new job creation in South Australia.
A special event, attended by French Ambassador to Australia Christophe Penot, UniSA Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation Professor Tanya Monro and South Australian Space Industry Centre Chief Executive Richard Price, was held on Friday 18 May to officially launch the competition.
Co-organised by the French space agency Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) and the European Space Agency (ESA), the event will be delivered by UniSA’s Innovation & Collaboration Centre with support from the South Australian Government.
UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd says the space hackathon will offer exciting opportunities for people with great ideas and an entrepreneurial spirit.
“As a long-term supporter of space innovation and space education through our partnership with the International Space University and our research into satellite systems, UniSA is delighted to host the international space hackathon,” Prof Lloyd says.
“We’re committed to innovation and enterprise in South Australia and to exploring how our research and education can underpin the newly formed national space agency.
“We are also deeply committed to encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation in our students and graduates and to working with them and industry professionals to grow local businesses and high potential start-ups.”
South Australia was chosen to host the hackathon given its support for the creation of an Australian space agency as well as the recent establishment of the country’s first dedicated centre to grow the local space economy and create future high-tech jobs.
The new South Australian Space Industry Centre (SASIC) will support the SA’s emerging space industry by providing funding of up to $1 million every year over the next four years to young space entrepreneurs, along with new and existing space start-ups.
Chief Executive of the South Australian Space Industry Centre Richard Price says SASIC is pleased to support ActInSpace.
“To bring this global competition to Australia for the first time is very exciting and testament to our vibrant space sector.”
“Home to over 60 space organisations, a dedicated space centre and a host of space-related activities, South Australia has an innovative and dynamic space industry.”
“ActInSpace combines creativity with technology and innovation; a perfect opportunity for our young people across Australia to unleash their true potential.”
“Encouraging entrepreneurship and inspiring people to pursue careers in space plays a key role in growing Australia’s share of this lucrative industry, and this competition gives our brightest minds the chance to show the rest of the world what they are capable of.”
The winners from the Adelaide competition will win flights and accommodation to compete in a ‘final’ that will take place in France during the Toulouse Space Show in 2018.
Find out more about ActInSpace at actinspace.org/.
