
Space Technology and Industry Institute
The Space Technology and Industry Institute is the engine room for innovation and economic growth in the final frontiers of astrophysics, aerospace, aviation, AI and more.
Swinburne’s Space Technology and Industry Institute combines internationally competitive capabilities in astrophysics, aerospace, aviation, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence to tackle challenges at the forefront of human understanding and imagination.
The new institute will propel innovation and economic growth in a global sector projected to be worth $1 trillion by 2040. It fosters education at every level, from vocational training to PhD.
Our research
The Space Technology and Industry Institute collaborates with future-focussed industry partners to identify needs, design solutions and develop technologies in a range of fields central to the space sector.
PhD Scholarship in Lunar Based Casting Technologies
A fantastic opportunity exists to take part in a PhD Scholarship working with a leading US based Space Industrial company developing new technologies for post-processing extracted materials on the surface of the moon.
Our people
Our team comprises experts in aerospace technology, and next-generation design and manufacturing.
Space science and technology courses
School-leavers, current students and professionals can all find courses to propel them into the next generation of space technology innovators. Explore our range of courses today.
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Space Technology
When you study space technology at Swinburne, you'll explore the most exciting topics in space science, such as: microgravity science, space environment, and space entrepreneurship.
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Micro-credentials
Industry relevant, six-week, micro-credential courses synthesising critical elements of the global space industry ecosystem to support growth of the space workforce.
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Youth Space Innovation Challenge
Secondary students can design and lead an experiment that blasts off to the International Space Station each year through the Swinburne Youth Space Innovation Challenge.
Work with us
We have a talented group of scientists and engineers with a broad range of expertise across space technology – we can work with you to drive innovation and help solve your complex problems.
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Get in touch
Tell us your challenges, ideas or big questions, and we’ll work with you to share our expertise. Call us on +61 3 9214 5177 or email spaceinstitute@swinburne.edu.au.
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Come together
Relevant experts from our team will work with you to create ideas and identify possible solutions to the challenges we are facing.
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Resource
If the project needs funding, that is something we can tackle together with various opportunities to explore.
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Find the solutions
We design and implement a research project to address the issues at hand and deliver innovative, achievable solutions.
Partnerships
The Space Technology and Industry Institute can connect you to the innovative work of Swinburne’s internationally renowned Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing as well as the three Australian Research Council Centres of Excellence that Swinburne is a part of:
Lunacy - 3MT Asia-Pacific WINNER
Congratulations Matthew Shaw, a PhD candidate in the Space Institute whose presentation on the production of metal on the Moon took home both the first place prize and the peoples’ choice award this year in the university competition. Matthew and his presentation ‘Lunacy’ went on to win at the 2021 Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT Final against 7 other finalists from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. Well done Matthew.

The 3MT competition challenges PhD candidates to present their thesis in an engaging way to a lay audience in three minutes or less. It takes competitors months to hone their scripts and practice the speech to make sure that it is engaging and informative. Presenters this year spanned many areas of research including engineering in neuroscience, shorebird mapping, movement motivation, archaeology, and many more. All the finalists’ presentations are available to watch on the Swinburne Commons.
Space junk
Professor Alan Duffy, astronomer and director of the Space Technology and Industry Institute discusses how Australia’s helping to fight the snowballing threat of space junk.
In a bid to avoid the Kessler Syndrome, a disastrous chain reaction of colliding debris in orbit, artificial intelligence (AI) will play a crucial role in determining a system of space safety.
Swinburne University and partners are engaging in a project called ‘Responsible AI in Space’, a collaboration between space scientists, law and policy experts, the space industry, government and practitioners in the emerging field of AI assurance.
Our latest news
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- Astronomy
Cosmic telescope reveals inner workings of two proto-galaxies
Using a unique new instrument and a little help from nature, Swinburne researchers have gotten the first in-depth view of the enormous gas clouds that serve as galactic nurseries.
Thursday 19 May 2022 -
- Technology
$52 million boost to supercharged Australian Space Manufacturing Network
Swinburne is the Victorian university hub of the Australian Space Manufacturing Network, led by Gilmour Space Technologies, which has been awarded $52 million in Federal Government co-funding.
Monday 28 March 2022 -
- Science
Fresh from the ISS: how a group of high school students is leading an experiment on space-made yoghurt
It’s probably no surprise that keeping healthy in space is incredibly important. And without the typical resources found on Earth, creative solutions have to be explored.
Friday 18 February 2022 -
- Astronomy
- Trades
Give me some space tradies
There’s a lot of hype around space tradies. But what are they, exactly? And how do you become one?
Wednesday 16 February 2022 -
- Astronomy
- Technology
- Science
New supercomputer to herald next generation of discoveries
Swinburne’s powerful new supercomputer will help unlock the mysteries of the human brain, the natural world and the universe beyond our planet.
Tuesday 01 February 2022
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By signing up, you consent to MailChimp collecting your data, which is treated in accordance with Swinburne's Privacy Statement. You can unsubscribe at any time.Contact the Space Technology and Industry Institute
If your organisation would like to collaborate with us to solve a complex problem, or you simply want to contact our team, get in touch by calling +61 3 9214 5177 or emailing spaceinstitute@swinburne.edu.au.