"Ai Group welcomes today's release of the Space National Manufacturing Priority road map. This will give Australian businesses clear direction and the confidence to build long term strategies and collaborate to take advantage of the emerging opportunities in the global Space industry," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group said today.
"A key plank to Australia's manufacturing future is to encourage businesses to use existing knowledge and expertise to cross into new sectors.
"The funding is welcome. However, the early deadline for this first round is tight and is competing for the attention of businesses focusing on lockdowns and recovery from the worst recession in Australia since the Great Depression.
"We will be looking for real flexibility and assistance in the application process and a quick answer on success or failure while not losing focus on the need for sound and justifiable projects.
"This is a long road map to space which will need multiple funding rounds. Both Government and industry will need to learn from the process and improve. Of interest is how funding structures and co-contributions will encourage the scale required to be globally competitive," Mr Willox said.
