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.

4 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 projects are 6 months long and will start in August 2024.

Funded projects

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

Organisations: University of Auckland

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

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

Organisations: University of Auckland 

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

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

Organisations: 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.