Michael Ferguson,Minister for Science and Technology
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is committed to supporting local businesses to explore and enter the fast-growing space economy, which is set to grow nationally to $12 billion and add 20,000 more jobs by 2030.
That’s why today I’m pleased to announce our exciting new initiative, the Tasmanian Space Technology Seed Fund, which will co-invest with businesses to adapt, extend or develop new technology and services for the space economy.
Launching in the first quarter of 2022, the $500,000 fund will provide two rounds of competitive, matched grant funding to eligible Tasmanian businesses, including start-ups.
This is a great opportunity for Tasmanian businesses to enter an industry that captures the imagination like no other.
Following the signing of an MOU with the Australian Space Agency in late 2019, the Tasmanian Liberal Government has strengthened our space research infrastructure capabilities in the fields of Space Domain Awareness, Space Medicine and Life Sciences, through key partnerships with business and academia.
The next step in our plan will propel Tasmania’s industries into space by driving innovation, developing local space capabilities, increasing investment in R&D, and creating new STEM and highly skilled jobs.
The Tasmanian Space Technology Seed Fund is yet another example of the Tasmanian Government backing local businesses to think big and be bold to grasp new and innovative opportunities for our future.
