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Government of South Australia - Department of State Development

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    6th Sep 2024
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    Research and Innovation

    Cutting-edge research infrastructure facilitating innovation and collaborations

    As our world continues to change at a rapid rate, greater collaboration between industry and research, better translation of research, and greater engagement with the wider community is vital.

    South Australia is home to world-class research capability and globally recognised innovation districts, which offer opportunities to enhance collaboration across all sectors of the economy.

    To solve complex problems, create new products and services, access new markets and increase productivity, researchers and industry need access to world-class and affordable research infrastructure and equipment.

    The Department of State Development facilitates South Australia’s investment in industry-research collaboration through a range of initiatives, including the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS), which includes six NCRIS-supported projects in South Australia, delivered across 12 facilities, including 11 nodes and one headquarters. The facilities are located across the three public universities, the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), and the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI).

    These research facilities house expensive, cutting-edge equipment such as 3D printers, MRI and CT scanners, or high-resolution mass spectrometers, as well as intangible services such as data collection and analyses, or software platforms. Making these facilities available to early career researchers, small businesses, academia and government empowers them to develop and commercialise their research into new products, processes and services that would otherwise be out of reach.

    Between 2005 and 2023, the South Australian Government has co-invested $42.5 million into local NCRIS facilities, leveraging $75 million from the Australian Government and $71 million in cash and in-kind contributions from the host institutions.

    And as part of the 2023-24 State Budget, we are investing a further $20.2 million over five years to continue operating SA’s NCRIS facilities, upgrade equipment and support 119 full-time skilled technicians and staff – bringing total investment in this important research infrastructure to $62.7 million.

    Neumann Space – boosting spacecraft mobility with safe, simple and resilient in-space propulsion

    Moving from lab to space, Australian-owned and Adelaide-based startup Neumann Space sought assistance from the SA node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF-SA) to assemble its world-leading electric propulsion system for in-space applications.

    Neumann Space has patented its sovereign technology, the Neumann Drive, which uses solid metal as propellent, resulting in many benefits such as eliminating the need for complex pressurised systems or neutralisers, but also offers value for users with increased fuel efficiency, high fuel density and more, allowing satellite operators to perform missions such as orbit raise, station keeping, debris avoidance, all the way to de-orbiting at the end of their mission.

    Co-located at the University of South Australia Mawson Lakes campus and Flinders University, ANFF-SA is a world-class micro and nanofabrication facility providing open access to cutting-edge equipment, state-of-the-art facilities and world-leading experts.

    Neumann Space CEO Herve Astier says ANFF-SA has played an important role in achieving the company’s first two missions, providing specialised cleanroom facilities to allow it to develop capability while it builds its own facilities in the future to be ready by the end of the year.

    “It takes time and money to get a cleanroom up and running in a proper environment, so for us, ANFF-SA has delivered quick and easy access,” said Herve.

    “Their facilities have allowed us to focus on developing our technology and bringing it to market.”

    Neumann Space will continue to use ANFF-SA's facilities and expertise when required as it refines its products.

    Every dollar spent on South Australia’s NCRIS programs leads directly to economic activity, ensuring researchers and industry have access to the critical infrastructure and technical support they need to undertake their work.

    Investing in research infrastructure is crucial in supporting local researchers and organisations to develop and commercialise their research, and to maintain South Australia’s reputation as a centre of scientific and technological excellence.

    Learn more about science and research excellence in South Australia

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