Sydney is getting a $2 million National Space Industry Hub at Cicada Innovations

A $2.1 million National Space Industry Hub to help bolster the NSW space ecosystem will be set up at Sydney startup incubator Cicada Innovations.

NSW investment minister Stuart Ayres said the state was already home to more than a third of Australian space startups.

“There is no better place to research, develop and commercialise space technology,” he said.

“The National Space Industry Hub will be the nexus between industry and researchers, housing both the Space Industry Association of Australia and the NSW Node of the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre, which will also be based at the space hub.”

The news comes a week after the minister allocated $1.4 million towards establishing the NSW Space Research Network, co-hosted by The University of Sydney and the UTS.

Sydney uni is already involved with several projects in the $150 million Moon to Mars Demonstrator Feasibility Initiative to help Australian businesses be part of the global supply chains for NASA’s program to return to the Moon by 2024, and then land humans on Mars.

Cicada Innovations CEO Sally-Ann Williams said that alongside the accelerator’s custom facilities, the companies involved will also have access specialised facilities through our shareholder universities, ANU, USYD, UNSW, and UTS, including USYD’s aerospace, mechanical and mechatronic facilities, and ANU’s heavy ion accelerator.

“Housing the National Space Industry Hub will allow us to create a home for emerging space ventures in NSW,” she said.

“More importantly, we’ll offer these resources, mentoring opportunities and vital connections nationally through continued collaboration across the Australian space ecosystem for anyone on the path of creating a space tech venture.”

Participants will have access to free online commercialisation training programs, industry events, an impressive network of mentors, short-term acceleration, and affordable long-term incubation.

The physical hub will offer on-site facilities with accessible secure labs, clean rooms, and rapid prototyping facilities.