The future of Western Australia’s cross-sector technology exchange capabilities has taken a major leap forward with the announcement of the first cohort of small and medium sized business innovators to take part in the Quantum Technology Exchange initiative – known as QuantumTX(opens in a new tab) .
QuantumTX was created to strengthen capability and collaboration across Australia’s leading industries in technologies that bridge the mining, energy, agricultural and defence sectors and leverage competitive industry advantages into the $314 billion global space sector.
In particular Australia’s world-leading capabilities in remote operations, AI, Digital Twinning and Simulation, Digital Communications and Data Sciences present a huge opportunity to expand, create new markets and build scale, particularly between our energy resources sector and the emerging global space industry.
To seize this opportunity, QuantumTX’s five-month program provides some of Australia’s leading technology innovators with industry mentoring, facilitated market engagement, profile raising, staff development and introductions to new sector networks.
The participating companies will visit facilities such as the European Space Agency deep space tracking station in New Norcia, Roy Hill mining remote systems automation centre, Fugro automation command & control, Woodside Energy’s robotics labs and Muresk Institute’s Smart Farm. They will also engage with a range of expert speakers from leading organisations; including The European Space Agency, NOVA Systems, ICRAR, BHP, Fleet Space Technologies, CISCO, METS Ignited and NERA (National Energy Resources Australia).
NERA CEO Miranda Taylor said, “Australia’s ambitions to lead the next decade and beyond of technology innovation to support the global space industry should be limitless. Our journey towards this future starts by leveraging our world-leader capabilities in remote operations, robotics, automation and artificial intelligence – all of which have been developed through our energy resources sector. By supporting programs like QuantumTX, we can position Australia as a future hub and exporter of the world-leading technology solutions for space, while reinvesting the cross-sector exchange of ideas and innovative into future prosperity for our industries here at home.”
10 Program Participants were selected via a competitive process by industry experts. Each SME business has potential global competitive advantage with existing innovative products that can solve common supply chain challenges across multiple industries including the international space sector.
Filling new jobs created in these diversified areas will require additional workforce skills so Atomic Sky also included South Metro TAFE and Offshore Simulation in the program as Affiliate Participants.
The SME companies selected participate in QuantumTX are;
- Binar Small Satellite (Curtin University Space Science & Technology Center) - Cube satellite communications solutions in partnership with the European Space Agency
- Chironix - Robotic autonomy and artificial intelligence systems integrating human-centred robotics, wearable technology and machine learning
- Sapien Cyber - A world-leading cybersecurity platform providing unparalleled visibility, threat detection and response for organisations.
- Exodus Space Systems - Kinetic solutions for tackling the challenge of reducing space debris through innovation and collaboration
- Nexxis Technologies - Customised robotic equipment and engineering solutions for inspection and maintenance. Our advanced multi-limb robotic platforms incorporate dexterity and AI.
- Space Industries - Automation & Lunar Resource Extraction Vehicle (LREV) for extracting water on the Moon. Western Australia Space Precinct at Perth Airport.
- Sentient Computing - Immersive 3D visualisation and digital twin solutions for automation and remote operations facilities in all industries
- Curtin University Space Science & Technology Center - Applying advance machine learning to solve complex challenges with space applications
- Subsea Engineering Associates - Intelligent data and computational platform for automated engineering leading to improved insight, reduced cycle time and global opportunity.
- Terra15 Technologies - Real-time vibration, acoustic and seismic sensing for large scale infrastructure monitoring and maintenance.
Western Australian Innovation and ICT; Science Minister Dave Kelly stated, “Western Australia is home to world-leading technologies and innovators in remote operations, robotics and artificial intelligence. The technology that is already utilised in Western Australia in mining, the offshore oil and gas industry, agriculture, environment and medicine now also has the potential to be utilised for remote mining operations on the moon. With support provided by the McGowan Government through the $16.7 million New Industries Fund’s X-TEND WA program, I’m excited to see Quantum Technology Exchange work with small-medium businesses to enhance opportunities in this area to create jobs and diversify the State’s economy.
QuantumTX was founded by Atomic Sky and operates a collaborative model. Curtin University Space Science & Technology Center, Triangle Equity Partners, Fugro Remote Systems Technology and AgriStart provided industry funding. The initiative also received grant funding from the Western Australian Government and the Australian Government, including Australia’s Industry Growth Centres for energy resources and for mining engineering, technology and services; NERA (National Energy Resources Australia) and METS Ignited.
Media release credit to Peter Rossdeutscher(opens in a new tab) , 12 February 2020.