$100m dedicated to trailblazer projects across Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley

Toowoomba could become the next Cape Canaveral after millions of dollars were dedicated to project a university’s dreams into the atmosphere. Details here.

They say money can go a long way, and now the region will see $100m reach from the soil to space thanks to a “wonderful” commitment.

The University of Southern Queensland secured $50m through the Federal Government’s Trailblazer Universities $362m initiative to green light the USQ-led Innovative Launch, Automation, Novel Materials, Communications and Hypersonics (iLAuNCH) Hub.

“iLAuNCH Hub will improve Australia’s skills in the space sector, providing new jobs and boosting the economy and also help ensure our country’s space expertise grows well into the future,” USQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Geraldine Mackenzie said.

The University of Southern Queensland’s hypersonic wind tunnel facility investigates aerodynamics and heat transfer on aerospace vehicles.

The project, valued at $180m, is expected to turbocharge the nation’s space sector with 20,000 jobs by 2030, and an estimated economic boost of $3.65 billion to the region and nation.

“This government has realised we need to work on our ability to commercialise on the great ideas that come out of Australia,” Groom MP Garth Hamilton said.

“It’s going to absolutely transform Toowoomba region’s future.”

The University of Southern Queensland operates a dedicated industry testing service specialising in materials characterisation, polymer analysis, mechanical testing and large-scale structural testing.

USQ executive director of the Institute for Advanced Engineering and Space Sciences, Professor Peter Schubel, said the university was already a leader in space manufacturing and the hub would support the industry to further address sovereign space manufacturing.

“The program will provide critical research, equipment and infrastructure in support of rocket manufacturing, rocket launch and in-space hardware such as satellites, communications and sensors,” he said.

Lockyer MP Jim McDonald said rockets were already being tested in Helidon, and it was exciting to see how the industry would further develop and advance within the region.

Toowoomba will also be a site of further infrastructure and enterprise development through an additional $50m Trailblazer program.

The University of Queensland-led Food and Beverage Accelerator project would see the funding across four years to boost growth and innovation within the sector, with a strong focus on the Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley region.

The project is aimed at smart food production and “allow businesses to accelerate their capacity for developing and manufacturing products that meet changing consumer needs”.