While SmartSat CRC’s formal funding period is coming to an end, the work does not stop on 30 June. Over the past year we have implemented a comprehensive transition program to ensure that our people, projects, intellectual property, partnerships and capabilities continue to create value for Australia.

Key projects are being novated to ASII, SmartSat-owned intellectual property is being transferred for ongoing stewardship and commercialisation, and many of the staff and systems that have supported SmartSat’s success will continue their work through the new organisation.

Importantly, these arrangements have been designed to ensure continuity for our partners and to preserve the significant investment made by the Commonwealth, industry and the research sector over the past seven years. Through ASII, the networks, expertise and collaborative culture established by SmartSat will continue to support innovation, capability development and national priorities, ensuring that the SmartSat legacy remains active and impactful well beyond the CRC funding period.

Future Engagement with SmartSat CRC

As SmartSat CRC moves through its final wind-up and deregistration activities, ongoing engagement with SmartSat CRC Ltd will be limited to matters necessary to support:

• Final Project and Commonwealth reporting
• Financial acquittals and audits
• Statutory obligations
• Member approvals
• Corporate wind-up activities

Accordingly, future engagement with SmartSat CRC will generally be limited to Company Members and parties directly involved in completing these obligations. All future program, partnership, commercialisation and capability-building activities will be undertaken through ASII.

Meet the ASII Team

ASII has been established with a team that combines experienced SmartSat personnel with new specialist capability to support the organisation’s mission. Together, the team brings expertise across research translation, Earth observation, data science, software engineering, commercialisation, program delivery and corporate operations.

To support continuity during the transition period, SmartSat Chief Executive Officer Andy Koronios, Chief Operating Officer Andrew Beveridge, Commercial Director Cameron Stephenson and Marketing & Communications Manager Madison White will continue to provide direct support to ASII while remaining employed by SmartSat CRC.

This arrangement enables key personnel to operate across both organisations during the transition, maintaining continuity of leadership, stakeholder relationships, project oversight and organisational knowledge while SmartSat completes its remaining CRC obligations and ASII continues to establish and grow its operational capability.

The approach ensures that partners, researchers, government stakeholders and project participants continue to have access to the expertise and relationships developed through SmartSat, while supporting the orderly transfer of projects, intellectual property, systems and strategic programs to ASII.

SmartSat Intellectual Property Transition

As part of the wind-up process, SmartSat-owned intellectual property has now transferred to ASII. This ensures that technologies, software, datasets, platforms and other project outputs developed through SmartSat can continue to be:

• Matured and validated
• Commercialised
• Licensed to industry
• Incorporated into future programs and missions

The transfer protects the value of Commonwealth and partner investments while ensuring ongoing stewardship of SmartSat-developed technologies.

Where appropriate, ASII will continue discussions with project partners regarding future utilisation, licensing and ownership opportunities. Partners who believe SmartSat-developed intellectual property may be relevant to their future research, commercial activities or strategic objectives are encouraged to engage with ASII to explore potential access, licensing, collaboration or commercialisation pathways. ASII is committed to ensuring that valuable technologies and capabilities developed through SmartSat CRC continue to generate impact and deliver benefits to industry, government and the broader Australian economy.

Your Key Contacts Going Forward

SmartSat CRC Ltd (Wind-Up Activities Only)

SmartSat CRC Ltd will continue to exist for a limited period to complete final Commonwealth reporting, financial acquittals, audit requirements, statutory obligations and company wind-up activities. Enquiries relating specifically to Commonwealth reporting, financial acquittals, member matters, historical project records and/or company wind-up activities may continue to be directed to the below.

Australasian Space Innovation Institute (ASII)

For all future enquiries relating to projects, partnerships, research opportunities, intellectual property, commercialisation activities, events, and new initiatives, please contact the ASII team as per below.