South Australian Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund – applications closed

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

Applications for the second round of the South Australian Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund closed at 11:59pm on Sunday 2 February 2025.

The South Australian Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund was established in 2024 to support the rapid transition of space technology into operational use while growing the South Australian space ecosystem through international collaboration.

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

To be eligible, the lead applicant must be a South Australian-based start-up or SME in collaboration with at least one international partner organisation.

The South Australian Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund is an initiative of the South Australian Space Industry Centre in collaboration with the Defence Innovation Partnership.

Round 2 – Applications have now closed

Round 2 of the South Australian Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund have now closed.

This round offered funding of up to $320,000 to support one South Australian-based space company in collaboration with at least one international partner to fast-track the development of ground-breaking space innovation that will have a major impact on global space technology.

Minimum requirements:

  • at least one South Australian-based industry organisation (start-up or SME)
  • at least one international Partner Organisation.

The Lead Organisation must be a South Australian-based start-up or SME.

Minimum requirements for matched funding:

  • 1:1 matched funding (cash and/or in-kind). ie. applicants must contribute at least $1 for every $1 funded.
  • comprise a minimum 10% cash (the International Partner Organisation is required to contribute to the matched funding element (cash and/or in-kind).

Co-contributions from applicants may be used to fund work outside of South Australia, however the majority of the overall project effort must take place in South Australia.

  • 14 October 2024 – Grant fund announced
  • 30 October 2024 – Online information session
  • 30 October 2024 – Application portal opens
  • 2 February 2025 – Applications close
  • Feb – March 2025 – Assessment period
  • April 2025 – Applicants notified of outcome

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. However, the lead applicant must be a South Australian small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) or start-up and there must be at least one international partner.

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

What types or organisations are eligible to participate as the international partner?
International Partner Organisations can be from government, industry, academia or non-government organisations.

What is the matched funding requirement?
Matched 1:1 funding is required of up to $320,000 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.

What types of projects are eligible for funding?
Both product and service innovations are applicable for this Fund.

The South Australian Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund aims to support the rapid transition of space technology to operational use while growing the South Australian space ecosystem through international collaboration.

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.

Round 1 – Funded Projects

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.

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.