Sustainability in Space Pitch Competition
This is an opportunity for innovative Queensland-based businesses from any sector to gain access and exposure to key tech industry stakeholders including corporates, investors and government. If your innovative products/services can be pivoted to address at least one of the three competition themes, please apply as this will be a great opportunity to prove your technology in space.
Hosted by the Boeing company, in partnership with Advance Queensland and the Queensland Government, the event will include a keynote speech from an exciting special guest, discussion with a panel of industry experts and most importantly a pitch competition with the winning applicant securing a proof of concept opportunity with the Boeing company.
The winning company will be selected following an open call for applications, followed by a live panel judgment of the shortlisted pitches on the day.
Event Location: The Precinct, Fortitude Valley, QLD
Event Date: May 4, 2023
Application Deadline: April 12, 2023
Full details below
$100k AUD
A funded (up to $100k AUD) proof of concept (PoC) project to develop the applicant’s solution in order to address an existing challenge
Mentorship
Mentorship from industry experts
Partnership
Opportunity to become a supplier to the Boeing Company
New Business
Opportunity to work with key Boeing stakeholders (in Australia and the US) in addressing Space sustainability challenges
Space is a harsh, remote and challenging environment to operate in. Boeing is committed to working with NASA and other partners over the course of the next two decades to expand human space travel to the Moon and Mars, with significant progress required in this mission by the late 2030s.
To accomplish this, innovation is needed in multiple areas including health and wellbeing in space, sustainable energy for space, and increased safety protection of both people and equipment from radiation.
A common critique of space programs is that the funds invested could be better spent on sustainability focused applications to mitigate climate change on Earth. However, solutions to challenges such as those outlined above do often provide innovations which are also applicable to addressing climate change on Earth.
Part of this event will focus on addressing those sustainability concerns with sustainability specialists and local founders with discussion of how the solutions to the challenges of space exploration can benefit sustainability efforts on Earth.
Queensland-based businesses from all sectors are encouraged to apply if they can explain how their innovative products/services can be pivoted to address at least one of the three topics.
Health and Wellbeing in Space
01
e.g. How do we go to the bathroom in space? How do we scrub and reuse CO2? How do we keep people safe and well in remote and harsh environments with restricted resources? How to overcome the effects of long-term exposure to microgravity?
Sustainable Energy for Space
02
e.g. How do we create and store energy in the most weight and space efficient way?
Methods to Protect from Radiation in Space
03
e.g. How do we protect people and equipment from radiation? How do we create radiation tolerant materials?
All applications will be thoroughly reviewed, with a shortlist announced at least two weeks prior to the date of the pitch competition. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted directly with further details of what to expect on the day of the competition.
All applicant companies must be registered in Queensland.
Applicants must supply:
Detail on the impact of their solution to (at least) one of the three outlined challenges for space exploration.
Thoughts on how this solution could also be helpful in addressing sustainability on Earth
Explanation of the scalability of their solution
Discussion and forecasts of the evolution of the solution and associated technologies in the next 10 years (price, size, technical specifications, applications etc.)
Any applicable previous case studies (if available)
Information on any hardware & software used in the proof of concept, including any ITAR restrictions
A roadmap/timeline of key technology milestones required to deploy
Outlook of what a proof of concept of their solution would look like with Boeing, the level of support required and how this supports the applicant in advancing their business
A 3 minute recording of the applicant pitching their business