About

Since 2015, the Innovation & Collaboration Centre has supported early-stage startups through providing workspace, mentoring and funding. Read more about our staff and our startups.

About the ICC

ICC startups and residents

ICC team

Industry Experts

Programs

The Innovation & Collaboration Centre is home to Venture Catalyst and the state's first space incubator program Venture Catalyst Space. These programs are designed to help founders start their business.

Venture Catalyst

Venture Catalyst Space

Venture Launchpad: Space and Defence

Events

The ICC holds regular feature events on a range of cutting-edge topics for the ICC community and the public, community events for ICC startups, industry experts and other close partners and affiliates, and internal events exclusively for ICC startups.

Events in the ICC

ActInSpace

Venture Launchpad: Space and Defence

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  1. Innovation & Collaboration Centre
  2. Programs

Test your idea, understand the industry and decide if it’s time to launch

Thinking about entering the space or defence sector but not sure where to start?

This two-day founders intensive, delivered directly prior to the Australian Space Forum, is designed for people at the very beginning of the journey.

Whether you are a researcher, engineer or aspiring founder with an early idea, this is a highly practical, small-group experience to help you understand how these industries work, and where your idea fits.

Supported by the South Australian Space Industry Centre, this program will give you the opportunity to hear from successful founders, network with potential mentors, experts, industry and government partners, and better understand the problem you are solving, for whom and why it matters.

SA Govt & SASIC

Program format

Duration: Thursday 16 July - Friday 17 July 2026

Location: Innovation & Collaboration Centre, Adelaide University Enterprise and Innovation Hub, 9 Light Square, Adelaide 5000

Cost: $149

Introductory offer: exclusive subsidies of up to $100 available for selected SA-based individuals solving challenges aligned to national priority areas for space and defence. Subsidies will be offered following applications from eligible businesses. Limited number available.

Apply now

infographics

Guests include

  • Campbell Pegg, Director Space, South Australian Space Industry Centre
  • Harrison Box, Founder, Paladin Space
  • Dr Catherine Grace, Acting General Manager - Space Capability, Australian Space Agency
  • JD Sheard, Co-founder and Partner, Eastend Ventures
  • Jo Chatuvedi-Durant, Ventur Partner, VU Venture Partners
  • Dr Michelle Perugini, Director Research Translation and Commercialisation, Adelaide University
  • Judy Halliday, Director, Research & Innovation, Department of State Development
 
 

 

 

Who is this program for?

  • Researchers and PhD students exploring commercialisation
  • Engineers and technical professionals curious about startups
  • First-time or aspiring founders with an early idea
  • Anyone considering a move into space or defence.

No startup experience is required.

What you'll get from the program?

  • Understand the industry: get a clear, practical view of how the space and defence sectors actually operate, from customers and procurement to funding and timelines
  • Pressure-test your idea: Work through your concept with structured frameworks to identify real problems, customers and opportunities
  • Build a simple business model: Translate your idea into a one-page model you can act on immediately
  • Know your next steps: Leave with a focused plan to validate your idea or confidently decide not to pursue it
  • Build the right connections: Meet mentors, industry insiders and people who can help you navigate what comes next.

Why this program exists

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.

Over these two days, you will gain the clarity to move forward with confidence, avoid wasting time on the wrong idea and understand if this path is right for you.

What happens next

This program is designed as a starting point. From here you may go on to join an incubator or accelerator such as the Venture Catalyst Space program, apply for funding or grants, build a founding team or decide to pivot or stop, saving you time and effort.

Apply now

Paladin Space

Eastend Ventures

VU Venture Partners

Australian Space Agency

Adelaide University

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to have a startup idea to register?

You should have an understanding of the problem you are solving, and a basic idea on how you might solve it. The idea does not have to be well developed - the program will help with that.

Is this technical or business focussed?

This program will cover both in a practical way. You’ll learn just enough business thinking to translate your technical idea into something real and tangible without needing prior startup experience.

What level of experience do I need?

No prior experience is required. This program is designed for first-time or aspiring founders at the very start of the journey.

Innovation & Collaboration Centre

“When we joined the Venture Catalyst program, it just took our name out there and put it into the global domain.”
– Harrison Box, Venture Catalyst Space participant

“Venture Catalyst has been a great entry point for us to get into Australia."
– Migel Tissera, Venture Catalyst Space participant

“Failures and setbacks have taught me much, so learn to fail fast and fail gracefully."
– Ethan Tan, ICC Industry Expert

“Expertise informs what should be done; experience guides how to get it done. Access to both will accelerate your start-up’s journey."
– Nigel O'Neill, ICC Industry Expert

“Grow your network. It’s about who you know and a global mindset. Just because it may be new or not work out locally, doesn’t mean it hasn't already been conceived elsewhere - there could be opportunities to find new connections and collaborate.”
– Stephanie Wan, ICC Industry Expert

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