A new industry-led collaboration project through NERA will harness opportunities from Australia’s deepest oceans to outer space. 

The project will power the newly-formed Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE) consortium to map Australia’s current technology capabilities and identify opportunities to position Australia as a future hub and exporter of remote operations technology solutions for space.

The project will help leverage Australia’s world-leading capabilities in remote operations, AI, machine learning and automation to create new markets and build scale between the energy resources sector and emerging global space industry.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the project is an example of how Australia can lead the next decade and beyond in technology innovation by leveraging our industry knowledge and encouraging the exchange of ideas across sectors.

“It proves that by getting industry to work together we can see our world-leading energy resources sector expand even further and take on new frontiers.

“Space presents Australia with huge economic opportunities. These cross-sector opportunities will be essential if we’re to reach our goal of tripling the size of the space economy to $12 billion a year and an extra 20,000 jobs by 2030.”

NERA CEO Miranda Taylor said cross-sector initiatives like AROSE can ensure the fast transfer of knowledge to leverage Australia’s world-leader capabilities in remote operations, robotics, automation and artificial intelligence.

“Through the collaboration of AROSE and NERA, we can lead the next decade and beyond of technology innovation to support the global space industry and enabling this exchange of ideas and capabilities to deliver back future prosperity for our industries here at home,” said Taylor.

Western Australian Science Minister Dave Kelly said AROSE presents an opportunity to leverage Western Australia’s world-class expertise to create an estimated 1,500 WA jobs in five years’ time.

The Western Australian Government is a founding partner of AROSE along with Woodside, Fugro, Nova Systems, Curtin University and The University of Western Australia.

Minister Kelly said the Government of Western Australia is seizing the opportunity to take part in the new generation space race to diversify the WA economy and create WA jobs.

“Last month, I announced $1.5 million to secure the headquarters of AROSE in Perth and I welcome the Commonwealth collaborating with us on this exciting project.”