Welcoming local SME partnership with NASA

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today welcomed the announcement of Gold Coast based company, Gilmour Space Technologies, partnering with the US National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) to collaborate on various research and technology development in space.

The announcement, which will see the two parties enter into a Space Act Agreement, will lead Gilmour Space Technologies to work more closely with NASA on rover testing at Kennedy Space Center, and other exciting space activities including space transportation, propulsion and life support systems.

Minister Pyne said the 2016 Defence White Paper acknowledged the importance of space-based and space-enabled capabilities, and the vital role they play in Australian Defence Force and coalition operations.

“With the Government’s recent announcement of a national Space Agency, partnerships like this one announced today complements the Government’s vision in advancing Australia’s space capabilities,” Minister Pyne said.

“Investment in space capabilities will be an important element of the Government planned commitment of $200 billion to build up our defence capability over the next ten years. This will provide opportunities for industry growth and employment,” Minister Pyne said.

“The Government’s $1.6 billion investment in defence industry and innovation programs will ensure that we invest in the industry we need to support our defence capability requirements and transition world leading Australian research, development and innovation into practical defence capability.”

Defence is working with a range of stakeholders, including industry, through the Next Generation Technologies Fund, and the Defence Innovation Hub to assist in developing innovative technology and ideas to support Defence capability. It seeks proposals aligned with the six key capability streams identified in the Integrated Investment Program, which include space.

”The Centre for Defence Industry Capability is also focussed on building the capability of Australian Small to Medium Enterprises to be positioned to support Defence’s capability requirements, including to support our space-based capability needs,” Minister Pyne said.