The Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC) at Adelaide University will deliver a two-day program in July designed to help researchers, engineers and aspiring entrepreneurs navigate entry into South Australia's rapidly growing space and defence sectors.
Venture Launchpad: Space and Defence, supported by the South Australian Space Industry Centre, will run on Thursday 16 – Friday 17 July 2026, directly before the Australian Space Forum, and is open to participants at any stage of idea development, including those with no prior startup experience.
The program comes as both sectors experience significant growth.
South Australia's defence industry contributed $2 billion in economic value over the last financial year, while the state's defence workforce is projected to grow by more than 10,000 over the next two decades as AUKUS submarine construction comes online.
The South Australian Government has also committed $20 million to a space common user facility for companies to assemble, integrate and test space technology within Adelaide's Lot Fourteen precinct, home to a growing space and defence ecosystem.
Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Chris Picton says initiatives like Venture Launchpad are helping ensure South Australia converts its growing industry capability into commercial success.
“As a state we need to continue to capitalise on our strong innovation ecosystem and help these local companies break into the defence and space industries,” said Minister Picton.
“Programs like Venture Launchpad are helping local businesses develop the skills, networks and confidence needed to navigate these industries and bring their technologies to market.”
“By connecting emerging entrepreneurs with the right support and opportunities, we’re helping more South Australians build companies, create highly-skilled jobs and drive economic growth.”
Associate Director of Business Incubation at Adelaide University, Craig Jones says the program was built to address a practical gap in industries that are difficult to enter.
“Breaking into the space and defence industries is hard; they are complex, highly regulated and many people spend months or years working on their ideas without truly understanding how the ecosystem works,” he said.
“This program addresses that gap directly, offering structured frameworks, honest expert input and the kind of industry access that is otherwise difficult to come by.”
Over two days, participants will work through structured frameworks to define the problem they're solving, understand pathways to commercialisation, develop a business model and build a 30-day validation plan.
The program includes access to mentors, industry experts and government partners not typically available to early-stage founders.
Participants leave with frameworks to decide whether to pursue, pivot or abandon an idea.
Applications are now open for participants to join the inaugural Venture Launchpad program.
For more information and to apply, visit the website.
