Catalyst: Strategic – Australia New Zealand Collaborative Space Programme

MBIE and Smart Sat Co-operative Research Centre (SmartSat CRC) are co-investing in collaborative feasibility studies that contribute toward the growth of New Zealand and Australian space industries and develop capability for the Trans-Tasman space sector.

About the programme

In January 2024, the New Zealand Space Agency signed a partnership agreement with Australia’s leading space research organisation SmartSat CRC.

SmartSat CRC(external link)

This agreement to collaborate on space science and technology research projects will advance space science, leading to real world benefits for both New Zealanders and Australians.

Eight feasibility studies have been funded under this initiative. They are aimed at developing scientific capacity in alignment with industry and end user needs to address major environmental, economic and social challenges for both countries. All feasibility study projects are 6 months long.

Invited proposals to Phase B, September 2025

MBIE is investing up to $5.3 million (excluding GST) over 3 years, for Phase B funding. These 3 projects from Phase A have been invited to submit proposals.

  1. Satellite Sensing in Agricultural Practices: Phase A - ANZ’s Cal/Val campaigns of satellite, airborne and ground GNSS sensing of soil moisture (University of Canterbury)
  2. Monitoring the Southern Indo-Pacific from Space – The Takahē Mission (Restore Lab Limited)
  3. A Feasibility Study into the Governance and Management of a Network of Free Space Optical Communication Nodes Across Australia and New Zealand (University of Auckland)

Projects for successful applicants of Phase B will be expected to begin from March 2026, subject to MBIE’s approval of the Phase B work programme proposals.

Funded projects announced November 2024

SilverEye – Satellite Imaging for Land Vegetation, Environmental Recovery in Ecosystems and Yield Enhancement

Organisation: University of Auckland

MBIE Funding: NZ$85,000 (excluding GST)

Satellite sensing into agricultural practices: Phase A - ANZ’s Cal/Val campaigns of satellite, airborne and ground GNSS sensing of soil moisture

Organisation: University of Canterbury

MBIE Funding: NZ$100,000 (excluding GST)

Indigenous Pathways to Advance Fuel Moisture Earth Observation Technologies for Improved Fire Planning Management Strategies

Organisation: New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited T/A Scion

MBIE Funding: NZ$100,000 (excluding GST)

Enhancing Fractional Cover Models Using Hyperspectral Data for Improved Pastoral Condition Assessment in Australia and New Zealand

Organisation: Landcare Research New Zealand Limited T/A Manaaki Whenua

MBIE Funding: NZ$100,000 (excluding GST)

Funded projects announced July 2024

A Feasibility Study into the Governance and Management of a Network of Free Space Optical Communication Nodes Across Australia and New Zealand

Organisation: University of Auckland

MBIE Funding: NZ$100,000 (excluding GST)

Supporting the SatPing initiative with Observation, Modelling, and Hardware Development

Organisation: University of Auckland 

MBIE Funding: NZ$100,000 (excluding GST)

Monitoring the Southern Indo-Pacific from Space – The Takahē Mission

Organisation: Restore Lab Limited

MBIE Funding: NZ$99,750 (excluding GST)

Verifying MethaneSat livestock methane emission estimates in New Zealand and Australia using ground and airborne observations

Contact us

For more information, email internationalscience@govt.nz.

Last updated: 01 January 2025