The 2022 QuantumTX Space and Technology incubator program has awarded $750,000 to 30 companies right across Australia, with half based in Western Australia.
The program is designed to assist startups and small-to-medium companies that develop technologies in remote operations, including in robotics, artificial intelligence, satellite communications, simulation, digital systems and interoperability.
Under the program, each company received $25,000 to support to scale their businesses.
QuantumTX facilitates access to test sites, private sector expertise, technical mentors and international workshops.
124 companies supported in four years
Since inception, in 2018, the program has delivered over $3 million in support to 124 companies across Australia, with this year’s cohort the largest to date.
Adjunct Professor Peter Rossdeutscher, Quantum Technology Exchange founder, said participants came from right across Australia and will gain access to over 50 experts from leading companies in the resources, defence, space and technology sectors.
The companies will also meet with potential capital investors and collaborators. This includes from Fugro’s new Space Automation, Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Control Complex (SpAARC), the Roy Hill Remote Systems Automation Centre, Woodside Energy Robotics Laboratory and the International Space Centre at The University of Western Australia.
“The QuantumTX incubator program facilitates cross-cutting technologies from mining, energy and defence, into the space and advanced manufacturing sectors,” Peter Rossdeutscher said.
The circular nature of these opportunities creates advantages, compounding returns and new jobs in all industries.
Peter Rossdeutscher, Quantum Technology Exchange founder
The program is funded by the federal government’s Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources through its Incubator Support Initiative.
The program also receives support through remote operation collaborator AROSE and Atomic Sky, a strategic innovation consultancy. Additionally, it has support from METS Ignited, Robotics Group Australia and Fugro.
Leanne Cunnold, AROSE CEO, said the program gives SMEs and ‘scale-ups’ the opportunity to diversify and leverage their space sector expertise.
“Australia is at the cutting-edge of robotics technology and systems for remote operations,” Ms Cunnold said.
“This capability is central to setting up a sustainable presence on the Moon, and eventually supporting human exploration of Mars.”
Ms Cunnold said while improved safety performance is the primary motivation for the industry to use remote operations, benefits are widespread, including for innovation, productivity, sustainability and workforce diversity.
2022 QuantumTX Space and Technology incubator program participants
| 50MC | GeoMoby | QL Space |
| Agile8 | Gilmour Space Technologies | Reach Robotics |
| Ant61 | Hindsite Industries | Robotic Systems |
| Ausinland | Innovative Energy Systems | S5 System |
| Camp Connect | Inovor Technologies | Sentient Computing |
| Caroni | Lycaon Group | Space Angel |
| Chameleon Mettle Group | Nexxis | TechNoL |
| Chironix | Outer Loop Engineering | Tekuma |
| Exodus Space Systems | Pitcrew AI | Traversal Robotics |
| Freelance Robotics | Praxis Labs | Valenhold |
The program aligns with the the Australian Space Agency’s Robotics and Automation on Earth and in Space Roadmap. It is predicted that the growth of analytics and robotics capabilities in the resources sector alone will add around $74 billion to the Australian economy by 2030, while creating 80,000 new jobs. It is estimated by the end of this decade that the $12 billion Australian space sector will employ around 30,000 jobs.
