Since their inception, METS Ignited has piloted a series of collaborative accelerator programs with funding and support from state and federal governments, local innovation hubs and industry mentors.  The accelerators have been pitched at scale-up businesses looking to increase their skills and capability development, to realise their commercial maturity, become globally competitive and break into new markets.  These programs have attracted a mix of regional and metropolitan scale-up companies with solutions for the mining and resources industry.

In recent years, METS Ignited has broadened the scope of the programs to provide commercialisation pathways to technology innovators with solutions in Robotics and Automation, Digital and Data, and Sustainability and Responsible Mining.  METS Ignited’s partnership with Quantum Technology Exchange in 2020 has expanded the opportunity again, providing cross-sector business accelerators to scale-ups in Mining, Energy, Agriculture, Defence and Space.

2021/22 saw further expansion with a major National cross-sector accelerator launched and micro-accelerators being run for the first time. In addition, a further series of regional accelerators joint funded with State Government were carried out.

What has been achieved?

21

Accelerators

150+

Companies

Current Accelerators

The QuantumTX Australia 2023 Cross-Sector Technology Accelerator is currently underway.  This is the 8th accelerator being delivered by Atomic Sky. It is a business incubator for technology centric scale-ups, SMEs or researcher with an innovation sitting at a Technical Readiness Level (TRL) 8 or 9.

During the accelerator participants will have the opportunity to engage with large clients and garner international introductions. They will have mentors matched to their needs, and have sessions on market engagement, profile raising, staff development and export readiness.

This year’s participants are:

Aevi Tech Eyemine Insitu Geotech Services px4 Software
Airconnect Hermes and Soteria Interlate Redline Automation
Carbon Compass Hindsite Industries MIDAS Tech Scaffplan
CFS – Univat ID Culcha Outback Comms Skyscan
Concrete Data Sensors Improve IO Orblin Dynamics Staunch Technology

This is what participants have said about previous programs:

“The insights and lessons shared by mentors, speakers and peer networks throughout the QuantumTX Program have been invaluable in helping us accelerate our progress.“
Esther Oh, Founder and CEO of agili8

“Participating in the METS Ignited QuantumTX Program has led us to insights and introductions into other States and potential export markets and an understanding of the needs of other sectors…. From those introductions we have now entered a R&D partnership with a leading Australian University, site trials with several clients on the East Coast and raised capital for product innovation ….“
Dave Alexander, Managing Director, Innovative Energy Solutions (IES)

Recent Accelerators

Space and Technology Incubator Program – commenced 10 Nov 2022

The QuantumTX incubator program helped start-ups and small-to-medium companies develop technologies and services that support remote operations, including in robotics, artificial intelligence, satellite communications, simulation, digital systems and interoperability.

Each company received $25,000 worth of support to help scale their businesses and innovative products that demonstrate potential global competitive advantage. QuantumTX facilitated access to test sites, specialist sector expertise, technical mentors and international workshops.

Participants gained access to more than 50 experts from leading companies in the space, resources, defence and technology sectors. They also met with potential capital investors and collaborators, including from Fugro’s new Space Automation, Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Control Complex (SpAARC), the Roy Hill Remote Systems Automation Centre, Woodside Energy Robotics Laboratory and the International Space Centre at The University of Western Australia.

The QuantumTX 2022 incubator program participants were:

50MC WA GeoMoby WA QL Space WA
Agil8 WA Gilmour Space Technologies QLD Reach Robotics NSW
ANT61 NSW HINDSITE Industries QLD Robotic Systems/ Blue Print Lab NSW
Ausinland Qld Innovative Energy Systems WA S5 System WA
Camp Connect WA Inovor Technologies SA Sentient Computing WA
Caroni WA Lycaon Solutions WA Space Angel WA
Chameleon Mettle Group WA Nexxis WA TechNoL WA
Chironix WA Outer Loop Engineering QLD Tekuma NSW
Exodus Space Systems Qld Pitcrew AI NSW Traversal Robotics NSW
Freelance Robotics Qld Praxis Labs SA Valenhold QLD

National Accelerator 2022 – 3 Mar – 10 Jun 2022

In a first for both METS Ignited and QuantumTX a National Accelerator was offered in 2022.

The National Accelerator was for companies with technology solutions solving challenges in the Mining, Future Energy, Agriculture, Defence, Space or Oil and Gas sectors. Accelerator participants were introduced to substantial clients, benefited from one-on-one mentoring, visited sites, worked on their market positioning and alignment with industry roadmaps – amongst many other activities.

Valued at $12,500, participation was free via a competitive application process.

To read the full case studies from some of the previous participants click on their company name – IES, Agile8, Digital Twinning.

A video showcasing the remarkable difference these Accelerators can make is available here.

To find out more visit the QuantumTX National Accelerator webpage.

Building an Innovation Culture – 9 Jun 2022
Business Model Evaluation and Improvement – 8 Jun 2022

These 2 micro-accelerators were facilitated through Queensland University of Technology’s Centre for METS Business Innovation (CMBI). The micro-accelerators had previously been provided as part of many of the more recent Queensland Regional Accelerators. This was the first time they had been offered to an Australia wide audience.

GEA (Gladstone Engineering Alliance) Innovate, Adapt and Grow Program – 17 Aug to 15 Oct, 2021

Rockhampton Smart Hub METS Accelerator – 10 Aug to 12 Oct, 2021

RIN (Resources Industry Network) Culture of Innovation Regional Accelerator – 25 Aug to 13 Oct, 2021

This was the 3rd year that accelerators had been run in each of these regions funded by the Queensland Government. Whilst each of the accelerators were tailored to the needs of the individual regions there were unifying themes of supporting SMEs and start-ups to grow and expand into the METS sector.

“A fantastic, informative and professional opportunity to work on your business and grow your own business acumen, understanding and strategic planning. I would definitely recommend this program to other businesses.”

“I highly recommend this program for anyone wanting to broaden their skills and take their business to the next level. Absolutely worth the investment!!”