Australia is aiming high to establish itself as a major player in the global space industry. The Innovative Launch, Automation, Novel Materials, Communications and Hypersonics (iLAuNCH) program represents a $180 million investment to build sovereign space capabilities and develop a thriving commercial space sector.
An Ambitious Collaboration
Led by the University of Southern Queensland, iLAuNCH brings together over 20 industry partners along with researchers from USQ, the Australian National University, and the University of South Australia. With funding matched by the universities and industry, the consortium has $180 million to invest over 5 years on research, commercialisation, and manufacturing projects targeted at critical gaps in Australia’s space industry.
The goal is to accelerate development of commercially viable space technologies and infrastructure, including civil rockets, launch facilities, satellites, communications systems and sensors. Central to this is the establishment of a dedicated space manufacturing precinct focused on rocket production and associated supply chains.
Major Economic Benefits
iLAuNCH’s industry partners have identified $3.65 billion in potential economic benefits from the program’s commercialisation projects over the next decade. This includes not just direct revenue from space-related products and services, but flow-on benefits from supply chain development, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and a skilled local workforce.
Development of a Space Engineering degree program aims to build the talent pipeline by skilling up graduates ready to work in areas like rocket propulsion, avionics, structures, and satellite subsystems. With over 700 space industry jobs forecast in Australia by 2030, iLAuNCH is helping ensure there are enough qualified engineers to fill these roles.
Fast Tracking Technologies
A key objective of iLAuNCH is to accelerate research outcomes from low and mid-level technology readiness into launch-ready commercial products over a rapid 5 year timeframe. This will fast track development of Australian IP in areas like launch vehicles, satellite platforms, ground segment infrastructure, and integrated sensor systems.
By providing industry-focused commercialisation support alongside access to leading research capability and specialized facilities, the goal is to progress technologies from proof-of-concept stage rapidly through to qualification testing and manufacturing readiness.
Building Lasting Capability
While accelerating near term commercial outcomes, iLAuNCH also aims to create an enduring space industry ecosystem in Australia. This means not just technologies and infrastructure, but the skills, supply chains, and collaborative networks needed to sustain long term growth.
Key to this is the program’s industry-integrated commercialisation model that deeply engages industry partners in shaping the research agenda around core sovereign capability gaps like launch systems, satellite platforms, and ground infrastructure.
Combined with flexible engagement options, this creates opportunity for the wider space sector to tap into iLAuNCH’s research and infrastructure assets in addressing their specific capability needs.
Leadership and Momentum
With its ambitious vision, scale of investment and breadth of collaboration, iLAuNCH is generating tremendous momentum behind Australia’s space industry. It represents an opportunity to firmly establish Australia as a competitive player in the expanding global space economy.
By accelerating research into commercial outcomes and building integrated, end-to-end sovereign capabilities in areas like launch, satellites and ground systems, the program can help realise the full potential of Australia’s space industry over the next decade and beyond.
