A message from iLAuNCH Executive Director, Darin Lovett.

What an incredible privilege it has been to guide iLAuNCH through its second year, delivering on our vision to build a thriving and enduring space ecosystem, generate world-class exportable technology, and develop the workforce of the future through exceptional talent. Achieving these goals has truly been a collaborative effort, uniting academia, industry, and government.

This year, we’ve forged connections between groundbreaking technologies from our three universities and the broader space industry, from primes to start-ups, graduates to industry veterans, and innovations from labs to trade shows with opportunities on the global stage.

In 2024, our focus was on initiating dozens of new projects, laying a solid foundation for 2025, when we’ll concentrate on channeling our investment into the ecosystem to deliver real results. In doing so, we’re fulfilling the goals of the University Trailblazer program, shaping Australia’s future prosperity, and fostering an entrepreneurial culture that drives research translation.

As the festive season approaches, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our partners and supporters. We can’t wait to return in 2025 to deliver on our newly signed projects and continue building an enduring legacy.

2024 Highlights

• Secured 15 new contracts in 2024, to the value of over $140 million in total investments.
• Honored Australian Astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg with an honorary doctorate at UniSQ.
• Commenced 10 PhD positions, fostering the next generation of research excellence.
• Expanded our network of industry partners from 19 to 29, strengthening collaboration.
• Inspired over 2,000 students through impactful STEM outreach initiatives.
• Committed $1 million to the Fast Track Fund.
• Partnered with Deloitte to launch the Global Pathfinder Program.
• Engaged more than 30,000 industry professionals across 50 events, driving meaningful connections.
• Sponsored over 400 students and participants to access transformative educational opportunities.

Projects launched in 2024

1. Rocketing to new heights with additive manufacturing of large-scale composite structures
2. First multi metal 3D printer in Australia to boost aerospace manufacturing
3. Combating the war on rust
4. Resilient radio for satellite communication (SATCOMM)
5. AI to monitor the health of astronauts, patients and remote workers
6. Regional Queensland gets a boost in the design of hypersonic vehicles
7. A thrust vector system for guidance, navigation and control on CubeSats
8. Eye in the sky space camera takes a quantum leap
9. A wearable device to track, analyse and predict astronaut health
10. Space holds the key for hypersonic missile defence
11. Long-range imagery to capture rockets in flight

A renewable bio-epoxy for space

Plus more exciting projects to be announced in early 2025.