Start me up: Science Creates Business

ABSTRACT

In the aerospace sector alone, Queensland's innovation culture is delivering results. * Black Sky Aerospace is making largescale scale solid rocket motors and plans to expand its capability to produce all the materials required to manufacture rockets including solid fuel for both space and defence applications. * Hypersonix Launch Systems is using hydrogen-powered scramjet engines to launch small satellites;* exci.ai (previously known as Fireball International) is employing technology originally used to look at supernova explosions to identify and map wildfires;* and Raytracer is developing underwater virtual-reality training simulations for astronauts. Think of Brisbane-based Ellume, which started with an Ignite Ideas grant from the Queensland Government in 2016 for a flu diagnostic test and recently secured a US Government deal for US$262 million to assist with the rollout of its COVID-19 home test. In the automotive field, Tritium is a home-grown start-up whose fast charging technology for electric vehicles has earned it a place as a publicly-listed company on the US-based and tech-focused NASDAQ stock exchange. All of the above businesses have benefited at some stage in their business development from Queensland Government funding assistance.