Fugro’s Space Automation, AI and Robotics Control Complex (SpAARC) in Perth, Western Australia (WA), is poised for significant growth, thanks to an additional AUD 5 million injection of funding from the Western Australian Government. The announcement was made by Roger Cook, the WA Premier, at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Perth on the inaugural day of IPSEC 2023, Perth’s Indo-Pacific Space and Earth Conference, a gathering of leaders in space and cross-sector technologies.
This substantial funding solidifies Fugro SpAARC’s standing as an international nucleus for space endeavors, poised to augment both WA’s and Fugro’s capabilities in space mission operations. The funds are earmarked to fortify existing collaborations and foster a local talent pool of experts who will contribute to SpAARC’s cutting-edge capabilities. This strategic move ensures that Fugro remains at the forefront of supporting future space exploration endeavors.
WA Premier Roger Cook expressed, “The WA Government is seizing the opportunity to transform WA into a global hub for space and technology, attracting the best and brightest talent, and accelerating the diversification of our economy. Leveraging WA’s high-tech robotics and remote operations sector, Fugro SpAARC will capitalize on our significant space infrastructure and capabilities to position WA as the Southern Hemisphere’s global hub for space operations and exploration.”
Sam Forbes, Director of SpAARC at Fugro, emphasized, “Space has always been a hotbed of innovation in robotics, automation, and harsh-environment operations. This additional support significantly improves our ability to lead in this dynamic field, while also furthering the unique remote and autonomous capabilities we’re working on at SpAARC and more widely within Fugro.”
This momentous announcement builds on Fugro’s recent participation in the WA Government-supported AROSE consortium for Stage 1 of the Trailblazer mission, executed in collaboration with the Australian Space Agency (ASA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
