About the Program

The Space Scholarship Program, delivered by the South Australian Space Industry Centre, aims to nurture talent for the state’s space ecosystem, awarding scholarships to eligible South Australian entrepreneurs and innovators.

The program awards successful applicants with funding of up to $20,000 AUD to support:

  • the development of leadership skills, experience and knowledge in the space sector through education
  • training at best practice workplaces or educational institutions around the globe.

The scholarships support individuals who can demonstrate their interest in improving their knowledge and skills as potential founders of successful space-related enterprises. The scholarship program is part of the Space Innovation Fund initiative.

Successful applicants for round three the Space Scholarship Program were announced in October 2021. View media release here.

Round four of the Space Scholarship Program is currently under consideration.

Subscribe to the SASIC e-news to stay up to date with announcements about the scholarship program.

Testimonials

Thanks to the Space Scholarship Program, I was able to commence my graduate training in space law under the guidance of leading practitioners, academics and business people at Leiden University in the Netherlands. Through the International Institute of Air and Space Law based at the university, I’ve been supported in attending the industry’s top forums and organisations. The South Australian Space Industry Centre saw the opportunity for South Australia to foster an alumni of Leiden University’s course and I am eager to return to Adelaide and help the state and Australia realise that opportunity.

Scott Schneider, 2019 Space Scholarship recipient.

The Space Scholarship Program enabled me to attend the Small Satellite Conference in Utah and also carry out research by visiting several wind farm customers in the United States and Denmark. I was able to significantly increase my knowledge on how I can be part of the space industry by enabling large scale deployment of our Internet of Things (IoT) devices using satellite communications. I can now confidently use the skills I learnt to commercialise our IoT system and grow my business as part of the South Australian satellite and space community.

Matthew Stead, 2019 Space Scholarship recipient

As a recipient of the Space Innovation Fund, I have been studying at ISAE-SUPAERO, a well-renowned aerospace institute with many aerospace industry relations. Beyond the coursework to obtain my Master’s degree, I have been given special visits to the Airbus assembly line and Cité de l’espace to learn more on the aerospace industry here in Toulouse. I have also begun a research project on the topic of Lunar resource utilisation, which is a field of expertise that I am interested in pursuing further work in and bringing back with me to the Australian space sector. I appreciate the support of the South Australian Space Industry Centre and South Australian Government in ensuring that I am able to complete this program.

Hamish McPhee, 2018 Space Scholarship recipient

The Space Scholarship Program enabled me to gain knowledge and skills at leading European space conferences and facilities. The chance to connect with international leaders in the space industry and academia was a transformative experience and has already yielded fruitful collaborative relationships related to my PhD research on electric propulsion.

Robin Georg, 2018 Space Scholarship recipient

The South Australian Space Industry Centre scholarship allowed me to spend five months at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. I was also able to get a first-hand understanding of the development of mm-wave and Terahertz instrumentation for planetary missions. This experience has given me the confidence and the connections to set up my own entrepreneurial venture to develop world-class instrumentation in Australia.

Aaron Pereira, 2019 Space Scholarship recipient

I wish to express my gratitude to the South Australian Space Industry Centre and the South Australian Government for their support and for making this amazing experience possible through the Space Innovation Fund. The scholarship has enabled me to undertake a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering at ISAE Supaero in Toulouse, situated with the French cluster of aerospace engineering companies and research institutes. The opportunity to be immersed in such a space has been invaluable thus far. I have toured the Airbus and final assemble plant for the A350 and A380, visited numerous aerospace facilities and have had private flights to demonstrate the aircraft’s response to aerodynamic phenomena that we were studying in our flight dynamics course. I am excited to continue to learn and grow both technically and personally through this experience and to start contributing to the aerospace industry.

David Vincekovik, 2018 Space Scholarship recipient

My education in Kiruna (Master Program in Space Science and Technology) has been absolutely fundamental in my growth as an engineer and I have been introduced to new concepts that affect the space sector. A particular highlight has been learning about sensor design from lecturers at the Swedish Institute of Space Physics, and institute with a heritage in designing space flown instrumentation for the European Space Agency. This scholarship has also allowed me to become more aware of developments in the European industry more broadly, through attending the International Astronautical Congress in Bremen, Germany as well as other events.

Jack Hooper, 2018 Space Scholarship recipient