Australia’s cutting a deal with the EU to get more locals into space

The agreement between the Australian and European Space Agencies would offer businesses and researchers greater access to each other’s space programs.

A treaty-level Space Framework Agreement between Australia and the United States has also been agreed to, opening the door for greater collaboration with NASA and other American partners.

Agreements with the world’s two biggest space agencies would be significant steps towards the government’s goal of tripling the size of Australia’s space industry by 2030.

The sector currently generates $3 billion to $4 billion in annual revenue and employs approximately 17,000 people.

Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science Tim Ayres announced the mandate to negotiate at the start of the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2025) in Sydney on Monday.

“IAC 2025 is a terrific opportunity to show the world how much momentum and growth have been achieved in the Australian space sector in the eight years since the congress was last held here,” he said.

“The exhibition hall will showcase the cutting-edge technologies that Australian space research has developed, important as well for their transformative downstream applications for Australian industries on the threshold of the shift to a high-skilled, less carbon-intensive economy.”

This follows the announcement of an initiative to boost Australia’s space workforce in July.

Astronautical gathering

More than 7,000 delegates from around 90 countries are attending IAC 2025 in Sydney this week.

The IAC’s “Australia Zone” is showcasing 150 Australian organisations among a total of around 450 exhibitors.

Thousands of technical papers will be presented across the week, including more than 400 by Australian authors.

The week will culminate in Space Day, a public event featuring astronaut signings and free hands-on STEM activations. More than 6,000 people have already registered.

Australian Space Agency head and International Astronautical Federation vice-president  Enrico Palermo said this week’s congress would cement opportunities for Australian growth in space.

“The large turnout for IAC 2025 is a testament to the desire for the international space community to collaborate with Australia, as well as the capability that we have to offer,” he said.

IAC 2025 is organised by the International Astronautical Federation and is hosted by the Space Industry Association of Australia.