South Australia’s dynamic industry sector is supported by a vibrant research and education sector in South Australia – including three local universities, two international universities and world-renowned national research centres, such as Defence Science and Technology Group, which actively contribute to the state’s innovation ecosystem.
The SmartSat CRC is a consortium of universities and other research organisations, partnered with industry that has been funded by the Australian Government to develop know-how and technologies in advanced telecommunications and IoT connectivity, intelligent satellite systems and Earth observation next generation data services. The impact of this research will be to develop intellectual property and a specialist industry expertise that will spawn new businesses, create export economic value and generate new high-tech jobs for all Australians.
The Defence Innovation Partnership is a collaborative initiative of Defence SA, Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) and South Australia’s three public universities, the University of Adelaide, Flinders University and the University of South Australia. Bringing together a world-class collective of thinkers, practitioners and experts in defence research and development, each of the partners is committed to a model of genuine collaboration between governments, industries and universities.
The University of Adelaide, located in the heart of the CBD, is ranked among the top 1% of the world’s universities. It is also a member of Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight research-intensive universities and is considered among the world’s leading institutions of learning and innovation. The University of Adelaide offers a range of degree programs that support Australia’s thriving space sector.
The Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) is a global hub of photonics research based out of the University of Adelaide. It is one of five research institutes at the University, bringing together over 200 experimental physicists, chemists, material scientists, biologists, theoretical scientists and medical researchers. The institute takes a transdisciplinary approach to science and novel photonic, sensing and measurement technologies.
The Australian Institute for Machine Learning was established in 2018 after a co-investment by the Government of South Australia and the University of Adelaide. Located at Lot Fourteen, it is the first institute in Australia to be dedicated to research in machine learning and collaborates with industry to provide big data capability with the potential to make the nation safer and more secure. AIML offers a range of postgraduate academic programs managed through the School of Computer Science and undergraduate programs are in development.
The University of South Australia (Uni SA) is situated in the heart of the Adelaide CBD and has a reputation for preparing students with professional skills and training that can be applied in the workforce. Uni SA undertakes research inspired by real world challenges and opportunities, delivering social and economic benefit. The university partners with industry in a range of sectors, including space, and is connected to over 2,500 businesses, industries, governments and the communities around the world.
Flinders University is in the top 2% of the world’s universities, located between Bedford Park, the Adelaide CBD and the Tonsley Innovations District. The university is a founding member of Innovative Research Universities, a collaborative network of seven comprehensive universities committed to inclusive excellence in teaching and research and learning in Australia. Flinders University is well partnered with industry and offers a range of job ready courses for the space industry.
Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) brings together expertise from a range of disciplines around Australia and the world to address Defence and national security challenges. DSTG works closely with the Australian science, technology and innovation eco-system to deliver scientific advice and solutions that provide capability enhancement for Defence and the national security community. They also facilitate Science, Technology and Research (STaR) Shots, which is a range of aspirational science and technology missions that align strategic research to force structure priorities and deliver new capabilities.
Venture Catalyst is a six-month program aimed at developing and supporting early stage start-up founders, by helping them to plan and execute their journey towards building a globally scalable and investment ready business. The program is run by the Innovation Collaboration Centre, a start-up incubator borne out of Uni SA to support new startups and growing companies. The programs space category, sponsored by the South Australian Space Industry Centre’s (SASIC) Space Innovation Fund, is the state’s first program designed specifically for startups who are developing new services or products for the space industry.
