Australian Space Manufacturing Network wins $52 million MMIC grant

The Australian Department of Industry Science Energy and Resources (DISER) has awarded a $52 million grant to the Australian Space Manufacturing Network (ASMN) under the Collaboration Stream of the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative.  The grant will help to co-fund the $157 million ASMN led by Gilmour Space. The funding will also support the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland, preparing its launch pad to fire rockets into orbit.

The industry-led ASMN will support Australia’s growing space sector to see Australian ideas go all the way from initial concepts, to commercialisation and finally to launch from home soil. Over the next five years, it’s expected the project will support more than 850 new jobs, including 350 space manufacturers in highly skilled engineering and technical roles.

As one of Australia’s largest sovereign space manufacturers, Gilmour Space Technologies will work with a range of partners and universities to create a manufacturing and test hub and an advanced manufacturing facility to produce launch vehicles and satellites.

“Details have yet to be provided, but we and our ASMN partners intend to leverage on this grant to engage in the full spectrum of space activities, from research and development to advanced manufacturing and launch,” said Adam Gilmour, CEO and founder of Gilmour Space. “These efforts will help grow the industry and deliver real civil, commercial and defence benefits for the nation.”

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the Government’s investment in the project will help unlock further collaboration between Australian SMEs and researchers to see launch vehicles and satellites take off to space.

“Australia’s space sector has already taken leaps and bounds and is globally recognised. The race is on in the $600 billion global space economy and the Australian Space Manufacturing Network will help cement the incredible opportunities for local companies to be part of the excitement of launch,” Minister Taylor said.

“Through the work of the Australian Space Agency we already know that space technologies are playing an increasingly important role on earth, supporting navigation systems which draw on them in our cars and smartphones and by farmers to monitor the health of their crops.”

Minister for Science and Technology Melissa Price said, “This investment will rocket us toward our goal of tripling the size of the Australian space sector to $12 billion and creating up to an extra 20,000 new jobs by 2030,” Minister Price said. “Space and manufacturing go hand in hand. By backing this project we are ensuring Australia can deliver across the entire space supply chain, from design and manufacturing through to launch and operation.

“It also emphasises to our young people that there are a range of jobs with all different skills that are available to them in space, from actual rocket scientists through to space tradies.”

For Gilmour Space, the grant will help to co-fund an Advanced Manufacturing Facility for building rockets and satellites in Australia, as well as a portion of the proposed Bowen Orbital Spaceport at Abbot Point. For our ASMN partners and the broader space community, the Common User Facility will provide the collaboration framework and infrastructure to advance Australian space technologies from initial concept through to commercialisation.