As SmartSat CRC enters its final year of Commonwealth funding, the Board and Management Team are focused on ensuring a smooth and transparent transition that preserves the achievements, partnerships, and intellectual assets built over the past six years.

Following deliberation and consultation with SmartSat’s Core and Supporting Participants, and consistent with the commitment under the Partner Agreement to see SmartSat established as an enduring national entity, the SmartSat Board has resolved to wind up SmartSat CRC Ltd at the conclusion of the 30 June 2026 funding period and transition its activities, assets, and legacy into the Australasian Space Innovation Institute (ASII).

The co-creation of ASII, between SmartSat representatives and the ASII Establishment Steering Committee, has been deliberately designed to allow ASII to act as a central element of SmartSat’s wind-up strategy, ensuring continuity of the SmartSat mission, protection of the national space research capability, and retention of the collaborative networks, assets, and intellectual property developed under SmartSat. The establishment of ASII also provides the formal mechanism for SmartSat to fulfil its obligations under the CRC Program Agreement, the SmartSat Partner Agreements, and its responsibilities as a registered charity under the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) — ensuring that all projects, IP, and residual assets are transitioned in a manner consistent with the Commonwealth’s requirements and the commitments made to SmartSat’s Participants. Dedicated financial provisions have been earmarked to cover project novations, employee liabilities and IP maturation, ensuring no unfunded obligations are transferred.

Project Closure and Continuity

The majority of SmartSat-funded projects are on track to be finalised by 30 June 2026. In the period between now and then, the SmartSat Management Team will continue to work with Project Teams to confirm milestones are achieved, final deliverables recorded, and the status of any intellectual property (IP) or data generated is captured.

Where projects may continue beyond the CRC term, they may be novated to ASII with Board approval, ensuring continuity and certainty for ongoing support to achieve project outcomes, and in some instances to support strategically aligned activities proposed under ASII such as space autonomy, Earth observation, and digital twin initiatives. SmartSat remains fully committed to ensuring that all projects and PhD students receive their full budget allocation, time, and institutional support to see their work successfully delivered, with appropriate arrangements in place to maintain continuity through to completion.

Managing IP and Data Responsibly

SmartSat’s IP Register and data repositories are being comprehensively reviewed and finalised ahead of transfer to ASII. This work ensures every SmartSat-owned asset is accounted for and transitioned in a structured, risk-managed way.

Each item of CRC-owned IP is being assessed using a set of principles to determine who is best placed to mature or exploit the IP. The process distinguishes between:

• Strategic IP that underpins future capability and will transfer to ASII for further development or commercialisation.
• Partner-led IP that is better placed with the originating industry or research organisation for ongoing development and utilisation.
• Shared or open IP where broad access delivers greater public benefit, potentially via non-exclusive licensing or open release.

It is intended that all Background IP remains with the contributing organisation, while Project IP will continue to be governed by existing agreements. Data and documentation will be securely archived for at least seven years post-CRC completion, with access available to the Commonwealth and project partners as required. This structured approach ensures SmartSat’s legacy of innovation is preserved and that valuable IP can be matured under ASII to realise its full commercial and national potential.

Post-CRC IP maturation and Collaboration Opportunities

On the wind-up of SmartSat, ASII will serve as the platform to advance and mature the technologies and IP generated through SmartSat projects, supporting their progression toward higher technology readiness levels, commercial readiness, and industry uptake.

Partners are encouraged to view ASII as a future collaboration pathway — to build on SmartSat outcomes across upstream (spacecraft systems, sensors, payloads) and downstream (data, analytics, applications) domains—benefiting Australia’s civil and defence space sectors and end-user industries including agriculture, emergency management, environmental monitoring, and resources/mining. In doing so, ASII helps ensure that SmartSat’s collective IP and expertise continue to deliver enduring national, economic, and societal value.

Supporting People and Capability

Key SmartSat staff involved in research delivery and partner engagement will progressively transition to ASII, ensuring continuity of expertise, institutional knowledge, and IP management.

Looking Ahead

SmartSat’s success has been built on the strength of its partnerships. The Board and Management thank all participants for their contributions and ongoing commitment to our collective mission.

SmartSat has now entered the final phase of its transition roadmap, with key planning milestones scheduled through 2025–26 to ensure an orderly wind-up and establishment of the ASII. Over the coming months, partners will be kept informed as the CRC finalises asset and IP transfers, project closure activities, and continuity arrangements for staff and PhD students. The Board is committed to maintaining clear communication and transparency throughout this process, ensuring that SmartSat’s collaborative achievements are carried forward seamlessly into ASII.

Further details on project closure processes, IP transfer, and ASII’s role in maturing SmartSat-derived technologies will be provided in early 2026 as part of the formal wind-up roadmap.

If you have any questions regarding this transition, please contact our Chief Operating Officer and Transition Lead, Andrew Beveridge, at [email protected]