Innovation ecosystem greybeard Professor Roy Green has launched himself into the space industry, taking a non-executive director’s role at SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre.
Professor Green is well known among the CRC community, having most recently been on the board of the Innovative Manufacturing CRC.
He holds an emeritus professorship at the University of Technology, Sydney, and is currently Chair of the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub, Food Innovation Australia and the Port of Newcastle.
The SmartSat CRC’s core purpose is to connect spatial technologies to industry applications in Australia.
For Professor Green, the SmartSat CRC mission is a huge opportunity for Australia, with the space sector “fast-emerging area that will be critical to Australia’s future strength and prosperity.”
He said the CRCs primary purpose was to develop and apply space-related technologies to Australian industry – both the existing industries where Australia already boasts strength as well as industries on the future.
“Those opportunities include the application of sensors and autonomous systems and the Internet of Things to agriculture, to critical minerals, and to the new and growing areas of manufacturing,” Professor Green said.
“There are a lot of interesting things that the SmartSat CRC partners are attempting to achieve, including developing a coordinating mechanism for SMEs that are operating in this [spatial technology] area and that have no real focal point right now,” he said.
Part of this is to work with SMEs to develop their eligibility for applications to support through the National Reconstruction Fund, and also to the pipeline program to the NRF, the Industry Growth Fund.
The SmartSat CRC was unveiled in 2019 with $110 million of cash funding – $55 million from industry participants matched by $55 million from government – and another $130 million in in-kind investments, including people, infrastructure and satellite time.
The partners include industry and research organisations including UniSA, Airbus, Bae Systems, UNSW, the Australian National University and a range of space startups, including Myriota and Fleet.
SmartSat CRC chief executive officer Professor Andy Koronios said Professor Green would be a hugely significant addition to the Board.
“His experience and extensive network in innovation across multiple sectors and academia will be invaluable to SmartSat CRC as we pursue our goal of advancing Australia’s space industry,” Professor Koronios said.
“The space industry holds the key to unlocking new frontiers, driving innovation, and creating jobs and security for our nation.”
The SmartSat CRC chair Dr Michele Allan said Professor Green’s track record on innovation policy and management would positively help SmartSat CRC deliver cutting-edge projects to shape the Australian space industry.
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