The Future of Space CRC bid led by The Australian National University (ANU) launched today at the Avalon International Airshow 2025, Avalon, Australia. ANU Institute for Space Director and Bid CEO Professor Anna Moore and her team are drafting the bid proposal for funding under the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) program for 2027.

Professor Anna Moore said the economic value of the global space sector has experienced remarkable growth, doubling within a span of less than two years to exceed half a trillion dollars by 2024.

“This upward trajectory is expected to continue,” she said.

“The Future of Space Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) bid is poised to empower Australian industries—including life sciences, healthcare, and semiconductor design and intellectual property—by facilitating aUordable access to microgravity manufacturing and ensuring safe returns. This initiative is committed to advancing sustainable practices while delivering economic benefits to all Australians.”

Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) promote long-term, industry-led research collaborations to tackle significant challenges and seize opportunities within Australian industries. The Future of Space CRC aims to ensure that the industry is central to the collaborative model by bringing together researchers and the government.

Space-based advanced manufacturing and services (SAMS) are critical to Australia's economy and security. Already, essential functions such as communications services, navigation and earth observation, weather tracking, remote sensing, to name a few, are enabled in space. Australia has the opportunity to capitalise on the increased access to space with pharmaceutical manufacturing in space and semiconductor devices for space which are becoming valuable secondary growth areas.

The Future of Space CRC will be heavily focussed on how an industry, research, government and community partnership can support national priorities, such as advanced manufacturing technologies and a sustainable returns economy at scale. It is of upmost importance to The Future of Space CRC to embed industry-driven policy and governance frameworks along with First Nations knowledge and voices into all efforts from the start.

The Future of Space CRC empowers the SAMS ecosystem by providing infrastructure and experience to support sustainable and end-to-end capability development, which in turn facilitates a healthy returns economy. We do this by advancing both existing and new technological capabilities, alongside workforce development within the Australian space industry.

Australia’s world-class innovative research and technology community is poised to deliver robust and internationally relevant, space-based capabilities that provide for our collective security, enhance the technology landscape and positively impact the Australian economy.

The Future of Space CRC Bid Board is headed by Bid Chair Daniel Joinbee, Managing Director of Gunggandji Aerospace:

“The Future of Space CRC represents a pivotal moment for Australia's space industry. As First Nations people, we've been looking to the stars for over 60,000 years, and today we have the opportunity to combine this ancient knowledge with cutting-edge technology,” he said.

“This consortium brings together Australia's brightest minds from research, industry, and Indigenous communities to create sustainable space-based solutions that will strengthen our economy, enhance our security, and establish Australia as a global leader in space-based advanced manufacturing and services. We're not just creating technology; we're building a space ecosystem that benefits all Australians while respecting our connection to Country and sky.”

Bid CEO, Professor Anna Moore Director of ANU InSpace.
Bid Chair Daniel Joinbee, Managing Director of Gunggandji Aerospace.

Bid Board members include:

• Senior Professor Michael Lerch (Centre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong and Associate Dean of Research, UOW Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences)
• Dr Catherine Bair (CEO Bair Trax)
• Dr Nadia Court (Director, Semiconductor Sector Service Bureau)
• Bid Board Secretary and Bid COO Benjamin Bek (InSpace Associate Director Program Delivery and Operations).

For more information and partnership enquiries please see contacts below.

ANU Media

George Booth - Senior Media and Communications Officer
+61 439 362 537
george.booth@anu.edu.au

ANU InSpace Marketing and Communications

Krysia Derecki – krysia.derecki@anu.edu.au 
Emily Schuster – emily.schuster@anu.edu.au