The SmartSat CRC is a collaborative research community of universities and other research organisations, partnered with industry that has been funded by the Australian Government.

Prerequisites:

• Identify relevant stakeholders the nation wants to involve

• Build collaborative relationship with relevant stakeholders

• Lead agency & budget

• Procurement pathway

• Partner support as needed

Cost:

• Ballpark: USD 50k–500k (depending on scope and scale)

• Includes: stakeholder mapping and outreach, establishment of a community platform (online hub, mailing lists, events calendar), organisation of regular workshops and conferences, seed funding for collaborative research projects, support for student and early-career researcher participation, communications and awareness campaigns

Timeframe:

• Overall: 12–24 mo

• Phase: scoping & stakeholder mapping (3–6 mo), platform & governance setup (3–6 mo), launch of events and networking activities (6–12 mo), evaluation & reinforcement (3–6 mo)

Pros:

• Stakeholder Networking – Facilitates networking among diverse stakeholders to support research and development.

• Supports Knowledge and Resource Sharing – Allows institutions to share data, facilities, funding opportunities, and best practices.

• Supports Capacity Building – Helps mentor young researchers and connect them with senior experts.

Considerations:

• Coordination Challenges – Aligns the goals and interests of diverse stakeholders may be difficult and time-consuming.

• Risk of Fragmentation – Fragmented community due unclear structure and leadership.

• Operational Sustainability Challenge – Requires dedicated staff, funding, and regular events.