The Victorian government has turned to the private sector to establish a defence and space industry network to help local companies capitalise on “unprecedented investment” from the Commonwealth.
The state government this week opened a tender for a Victorian defence and space industry network service provider.
This network will work to promote Victorian defence and space industry capabilities domestically and globally to the primes, tier 1s and other key stakeholders, including in overseas markets.
The service will also support the identification of opportunities for Victorian supply chain companies by providing industry advice and intelligence, and connect industry with domestic and global defence and space opportunities.
“There is currently unprecedented investment by the Commonwealth government in defence and space capabilities. This requires a defence and space industry network to maximise opportunities this presents for Victorian SMEs,” the tender said.
‘This procurement will secure a long-term service provider to facilitate networking, information sharing and promotion of Victoria’s defence and space industry sectors. The provision of this key service for defence and space industry stakeholders will be supported by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions and the broader Victorian government.”
The network, which will be free for members, will act as a conduit for information from Victoria’s supply chain companies to the Victorian government and launch a forum for information sharing, networking, collaboration on defence and space programs and capability building.
The winning bid must provide a networking website and membership base, and conduct at least 10 industry briefings annually.
The federal government last year added space as a new Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority, making the sector eligible for Defence’s SME grant program. This program has funded over 100 opportunities, worth about $64 million since its launch in 2018, and much more could come after a $7 billion boost to Defence’s space program.
The federal budget earlier this year also included $1.2 billion in funding for a National Space Mission for Earth Observation, focused on improving sovereign capability in designing, building and launching satellites in Australia.
The program will be structured as a procurement program, with the government acting as an anchor customer to local companies.
Earlier this year eight leading Australian-owned space and defence companies formed a consortium to capitalise on this increase in spending from the federal government and the need for sovereign space defence capabilities around satellites and situational awareness.
Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.