Space Secretary Judith Collins reviews details of space strategy to ‘reduce bureaucratic hurdles’

A study will also be conducted to investigate the size of the sector (the study still frequently cites the MBIE study from 2019, which concluded that the sector was worth $1.7 billion and employed 12,000 people).

Simplifying the rules, getting smarter, no new funding

No new funding was announced (and in fact, the total for co-funding grants tied to the Callaghan Innovation aerospace project Trailblazer announced in Collins’ speech has reached $17.5 million, compared to $21.4 million last year.)

And despite speculation, no new R&D announcements have been made. Yesterday, at a summit panel on venture and VC, entrepreneur Billy Jeremijenko, founder of an early-stage space wireless power startup called Aquila, said he moved his company across the Tasman because of Australia’s superior R&D tax breaks. NZ had to follow suit. (Jeremijenko also has other ties to the country, having attended the University of Queensland and received funding from a Sydney-based venture capital firm.)

“I think if we could get a bit more out of the ground like the Australians, we would have more money,” Collins said today. “R&D is important and we are looking to bring more capital into this country. It will help to accelerate the growth of the local industry as well as attracting overseas players and new investment.”

Jeremijenko said: Reporter Today, “the industry understands that Australia is richer.” Collins had made a pragmatic effort to leverage NZ’s advantages in other areas.

Also on yesterday’s panel, Outset Ventures partner Angus Blair said: “We are in danger of Australia eating our lunch” If NZ Aukus were not a member of the 2nd Pillar in the aviation sector. Government to discover Choice.

Collins said New Zealand was already well positioned in the aviation space.

He said New Zealand will be the third country to launch the most rockets in the world by 2025.

“New aviation technologies, such as unmanned aerial vehicles and drones, will revolutionize aviation and have global impacts on communications, emergency management and advancing science,” Collins said at the summit.

“We are committed to delivering a world-class regulatory environment by the end of 2025. To achieve this, we are introducing a light-touch regulatory approach that will make it significantly easier for innovators to test their technologies and ideas.

“New Zealand is an attractive location for aviation-related business. With a world-class regulatory environment, we can leverage our natural advantages of open skies and geography, and our talented people to make New Zealand a preferred location for aviation activities.”

The new runway is expected to provide employment for 300 people

In February, Collins New $5.4 million runway at Tāwhaki National Aeronautics and Space CentreIt was west of Banks Peninsula and was scheduled to visit the facility again in the afternoon.

Dawn Aerospace’s runway for its uncrewed spaceplane (a few miles away from reaching space) was funded by the previous Government’s Regional Development Fund, which was denounced by the opposition at the time as a “dark money fund” but is now backed by a new arrangement under the National-New Zealand Action First deal.

Collins said Tāwhaki was in line with the new sandbox regime, but the no-fly zones would not be finalized until next year. They would target areas where experimental vehicles are tested rather than regular flights or launches, such as Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 at Mahia.

Rocket said its firm and Dawn Aerospace are using Tāwhaki, a US-owned electric, pilotless aircraft taxi startup WhiskWith Boeing’s support, test flights were also carried out at a different site in Canterbury under special agreements with the previous government.

Overall, it has been difficult for New Zealand to match the incentives, grants and support offered in larger offshore markets.

In the US, Rocket Lab recently received another major round of funding from the US Government – this time $US23.9 million ($41.3 million) under the law, popularly known as the Chips Act.

The grant will be used to boost production at the Kiwi-American firm’s New Mexico facility, which makes radiation-resistant semiconductors in the form of solar cells for spacecraft. Rocket Lab described the semiconductors in a filing today as “crucial components for national defense and security satellites.”

Additionally, the New Mexico state government pledged to provide $US25.5 million ($44.01 million) in financial aid and incentives to assist with the expansion.

Rocket Lab also said it plans to take advantage of the U.S. Treasury Department’s investment tax credit to cover 25 percent of capital expenditures on the project.

Callaghan Ārohia Trailblazer grantees

Collins also announced the recipients of this year’s Callaghan Innovation Ārohia Trailblazer Grant Program, who will share $17.5 million in co-funding, during his Aerospace Summit speech. (The $4 million decrease from last year was an agency operational matter, the minister said.)

Four of the seven were from or associated with the aviation sector: Astrix Astronaut, Emrod, Material And Zenno (The other three winners were Basis NZ, Toku’s Eyes And Galvanized.)

Chris Keall is an Auckland-based member of the Herald’s business team. He joined the Herald in 2018 and is technology editor and senior business writer.