Singapore & Australia’s Northern
Territory Space and Deep Tech collaborations
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
signed between Australia’s Northern Territory
Government, the Darwin Innovation Hub, Cap Vista Pte Ltd
and Singapore Space & Technology Ltd (SSTL)
Australia’s Northern
Territory Government and the Darwin Innovation Hub
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cap
Vista Pte Ltd and Singapore Space & Technology Ltd
(SSTL) for a strategic partnership to collaborate on
space activities through Project Cyclotron, Cap Vista
and SSTL’s joint venture-building programme for space
and deep tech companies.
Due to the Covid-19 restrictions,
the successful signing ceremony took place over a hybrid
event; on-site in Australia, at the Darwin Innovation
Hub and in Singapore, at the High Commission of
Australia, and virtually over Zoom. The Australian High
Commissioner to Singapore, His Excellency Bruce Gosper,
hosted the signing event in Singapore, while the First
Secretary at the Singapore High Commission in Canberra,
Abigail Ho, was a witness to the signing event in
Australia.
The MoU aims to establish a
strategic collaboration between Australia’s Northern
Territory and Project Cyclotron that could enable a
two-way deal flow of space startups between Australia’s
Northern Territory and Singapore. Opportunities for
collaboration include test-bedding and market
validation; launch of Singapore-built payloads and
rockets from the Northern Territory’s Arnhem Space
Centre; and co-investment in innovative space and tech
companies that add value to the space supply chains in
the respective locations. This MoU signing in the midst
of the global pandemic signifies both countries’ firm
commitment to move ahead with this international
partnership in spite of these extraordinary
circumstances.
Project Cyclotron focuses on
building regional space and deep tech companies, by
providing them with highly customised support for
commercial success, including potential investment,
business and technical insights, marketing platforms and
resources and market access in Asia Pacific.
“As Space is a niche sector,
SpaceTech companies require significant support to
catalyse their growth across various industry and
geographical sectors. We are delighted to be deepening
our relationship with the Australian’s Northern
Territory Government and Darwin Innovation Hub to work
together to collectively benefit the SpaceTech ecosystem
in the Asia-Pacific region”, said Chng Zhen Hao, CEO Cap
Vista.
“This collaboration with the
Northern Territory Government and Darwin Innovation Hub
is valuable for our startups, who would benefit from
connections to the Australian space industry and
physical sites to test their technologies. Project
Cyclotron companies like Aliena, which is developing
ultra low power electric propulsion systems, is
currently partnering with the Darwin Innovation Hub. We
also plan to collaborate on projects for other companies
in the portfolio, like Bifrost, which generates labelled
synthetic data for AI training for geospatial companies.
To be able to push this MOU through in the current
COVID-19 climate speaks of our strongest commitment to
make the collaboration work” said Lynette Tan, Chief
Executive of SSTL.
“Project Cyclotron recognises the
aligned objectives of Singapore and the Northern
Territory Government to grow and strengthen the space
industry in our region. The Northern Territory has
geographic advantages for space activities and we are
perfectly positioned to benefit from the space economy
and the jobs it will bring.” shared the Northern
Territory Deputy Chief Minister, the Hon. Nicole Manison
MLA.
“Project Cyclotron will provide the
Darwin Innovation Hub the high-level Government and
institutional framework needed to deliver more projects
and private sector capital to the Northern Territory
space sector. It will provide
capacity to build upon our established investments; a
co-investment with Cap Vista in the space propulsion
company, Aliena, and our venture capital investment in
the Arnhem Space Centre. Both these
projects are tremendously exciting and position the
Darwin Innovation Hub as a valuable new player in the
Asia Pacific space sector. We hope that Project
Cyclotron will open doors for increased research and
development and facilitate launch and testing
opportunities for the Arnhem Space Centre,” said Harley
Paroulakis, CEO of Darwin Innovation Hub.
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