Government launches $1.3bn funding program for space sector

The federal government has invited stakeholders across the space sector to apply for funding via the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative.

The Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) has officially launched, with funding now available for stakeholders across the Australian space industry.

The MMI is providing co-funding for manufacturing projects across two of the three targeted manufacturing streams:

• manufacturing translation stream – helping manufacturers translate high-quality research and ideas into commercial outcomes; and

• manufacturing integration stream – helping manufacturers gain access to domestic and global supply chains to produce and distribute high-value products and high-value services.

Government funding is to be provided on a co-investment basis and is expected to cover up to 50 per cent of project costs.

The $1.3 billion MMI forms part of the Morrison government’s Modern Manufacturing Strategy (MMS), which aims to help manufacturers scale up operations, generate jobs growth, enhance local capability, drive collaboration and identify new opportunities to access domestic and global supply chains.

The MMI also supports the National Manufacturing Priorities, which includes the Space National Manufacturing Priority road map.