Australia-India Space Bridge Created
An Australia-India space bridge has been created through a partnership between Bangalore-based deep tech incubator mach33.aero and deep tech incubator Cicada Innovations' National Space Industry Hub (NSIH).
"We know it takes a collaboration between innovators, investors, industry, and policy to bring deep tech and space companies to life."
Sally-Ann Williams, CEO of Cicada Innovations.
mach33.aero is India's first public-private partnership to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in aviation, aerospace, and space-tech plus their wide-ranging applications across diverse sectors such as agriculture, climate change, natural resources management, insurance, and weather forecasting. It is hoped that the partnership will create and grow a bilateral bridge for international space collaboration between the two countries.
The partnership between Cicada Innovations and mach33.aero will provide a launchpad for space entrepreneurs from both nations to expand their network and footprint, grow overseas and export their innovations, attract investment, and collaborate on cutting-edge space technologies.
Both parties will offer mutual access to physical space, facilities and infrastructure, communities, programs, mentoring, commercialization training, coaching programs, and the local space community and network.
Importantly, it will also offer tangible support to Australian space entrepreneurs wanting to access the recent Federal Government investment of $25 million for businesses and researchers wanting to tap into India's burgeoning space industry. And it will also support both nations to engage in the $9.5 million Australia-India Innovation and Technology Challenge.
The Australia-India space bridge adds to recent discussions between the Australian Space Agency and the Indian Space Research Organization to establish ground stations in Australia to monitor India's navigation satellites, and is expected to supercharge the space industries in both nations according to Cicada Innovations.
"We know it takes a collaboration between innovators, investors, industry, and policy to bring deep tech and space companies to life," said Sally-Ann Williams, CEO of Cicada Innovations (pictured). "Given the nascent stage of the commercial space sector, space companies must develop strong international relationships - and this is a great example of supporting that. It also creates a unique opportunity to harness the skills and capabilities of both nations to mutually benefit our emerging space economies."
"Cicada Innovations has a strong track record of supporting Australian deep tech ventures that are truly changing the world," said Guru Ramu, founder & CEO of mach33.aero. "We look forward to working with its National Space Industry Hub to exchange invaluable skills, knowledge, and resources that will help both our nations lead the way in this new era of space exploration."
The NSIH is delivered by Cicada Innovations and seeded by the NSW Government. Its vision is to support the growth of a connected, capable and collaborative space sector that is independent, industry led and supported to thrive.
On July 29, 2022, a delegation comprising high level NSW dignitaries including Stuart Ayres, Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, visited Bangalore to formally launch the Australia-India space bridge.
(Image provided with Cicada Innovations news release)