iLaunch Trailblazer to link R&D globally

The iLAuNCH Trailblazer space research group has announced a partnership with Deloitte Australia, connecting local R&D with international organisations to collaborate on the development and commercialisation of Australian space technologies.

Building on the local Trailblazer research programme which fosters partnerships between universities and industry, the iLAuNCH Global Pathfinder Program extends this concept to a larger international market.

The partnership with Deloitte, the University of Southern Queensland, the Australian National University and the University of South Australia will transform how iLaunch engages with industry, alongside more than 30 invested commercial partners.

iLAuNCH Trailblazer Executive Director Darin Lovett (pictured) said: “Australia ranks in the top echelons for developing Intellectual Property, but we don’t capitalise well to commercialise.

“The Australian Government created the Trailblazer Universities Program to overcome this, providing $370 million of dedicated investment to accelerate Australia’s innovation agenda at speed and at scale.

“This Global Pathfinder programme is innovative in its vision and approach, emulating international space ecosystems for space technology to export our world class innovation into a global market.”

Leveraging Deloitte’s global network, Phase 1 will identify and solicit interest from international organisations interested in space research and development to co-develop the Global Pathfinder Program.

Deloitte Australia Space Partner Byron Riessen said: “Deloitte has a long-standing commitment to developing Australia’s space ecosystem and promoting a unified global approach to the development of the space ecosystem.

“We continue to demonstrate this commitment through initiatives like the successful GRAVITY Challenge, founded by Deloitte in 2019, which now operates globally from Australia.”

The iLAuNCH Global Pathfinder Program will provide Australian space R&D with an outlet to showcase world-class Australian innovation, adding to the $140 million already committed to the various iLAuNCH Trailblazer projects over the past year.

Upon completion of the first phase, iLAuNCH expects to announce the successful international partners in the Global Pathfinder Program in late 2024.

Picture: Darin Lovett