Swinburne launches prototyping program for aerospace startups

Swinburne University of Technology’s (Melbourne, Australia) Aerostructures Innovation Research (AIR) Hub is launching its prototyping program, AIR Pass, to address a critical gap in prototype funding in Australia, especially for the aerospace industry which requires more upfront capital to meet performance and regulatory standards. Facilities like Swinburne-CSIRO Industry 4.0 Testlab for Composite Additive Manufacturing support the AIR Hub’s R&D activities.

AIR Pass is designed for startups and small- and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) looking for prototyping and technology support for a demo, trial or pilot program with their first or next customer.

Successful applicants will get access to up to $150,000 of support over six months to design, build, construct, test, analyze and demonstrate prototypes to their customers, and up to $50,000 of startup seed funding to support commercialization beyond prototype development.

AIR Pass applicants will need to demonstrate strong and sustainable growth ambitions and a passion for growing the aviation and aerospace entrepreneurial ecosystem in Australia.

The aerospace industry is essential to supporting Australia’s connectedness as a vast island nation, according to Swinburne. AIR Pass will meet the growing demand from startups working on new, fast-scaling technology such as uncrewed air systems (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM).

“The aerospace industry will go through massive change over the next 10 years,” Dr. Adriano Di Pietro, director of AIR Hub, says. “Startups, SMEs and venture-backed entities will work together on aerospace challenges where only large multi-nationals used to have a chance, but they need support to do so. We hope AIR Pass will discover the next group of startups and SMEs to become champions of the industry, launching the moonshots and missions for further growth and technology benefits for our society and planet.”

Swinburne has been an active player in this emerging field, collaborating with Boeing (Chicago, Ill., U.S.), Quickstep (New South Wales, Australia) and other major manufacturers on aviation and aerospace projects. AIR Pass will provide startup access to highly motivated technical entrepreneurs, expert specialists and advanced facilities.

Applications for the 2022 program have opened and will close in early August 2022.