The Rudd Government has announced the Australian Space Research Program, which will grant $40 million for space-related research, education and innovation activities.

“Programs could range from establishing space education programs or centres of space capability, to funding high-level, collaborative research," said Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

Designed to encourage secondary students and researchers from industry, universities and public research agencies to pursue development of a wide range of research projects, the program has two grant streams applicants can apply for: Space Education Development and Space Science and Innovation Projects.

The program’s first stream will provide from $200,000 to $1 million for collaborations between universities and secondary schools or other institutions, Carr said. Projects could range from developing mini-satellite payloads that can observe earth to helping students study courses not available in Australia.

“There are many examples of young people carrying out exciting and useful space projects on relatively low budgets, and we want to encourage and build on that inventiveness.

The program’s second stream will offer between $1 million and $5 million to help develop Australia’s niche space capabilities by supporting collaboration between researchers and industry on space science and innovation projects in areas of strategic national priority, Carr said.

“This program will renew and increase Australia’s capacity to participate in global research networks and use space technology to deal with areas of national importance like natural resource management, national security and climate change,” Carr said.

Grant applications close on Friday 4 December 2009.