Australian start-up Optera Solutions selected for Thales Alenia Space Accelerator
Australian start-up Optera Solutions has been selected to join the Thales Alenia Space Accelerator Program in its French hub of Toulouse, France.
The Space Business Catalyst (SBC) industrial accelerator aims at fostering innovation through partnering with leading start-ups working on cutting-edge technologies to shape the future of a sustainable space ecosystem. The SBC identifies and collaborates through its Accelerator Program with the most promising global start-ups, forging mutually beneficial relationships that drive technological advancements for both current and future markets.
Optera's six-month residency which began in September 2024, will focus on advancing neuromorphic Event-Based Sensing (EBS) technology and associated business cases, primarily for the space industry. This collaboration will enable Optera and Thales to jointly develop solutions that meet the unique demands of the space sector.
Founded as a fabless semiconductor spin-out from the International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems at Western Sydney University in Australia, Optera is committed to bringing advanced, proven research into practical and commercial applications. The company specializes in neuromorphic sensing and processing technologies, drawing inspiration from biological systems to create novel sensors and systems. Event Based Sensors make use of pixel arrays where – like the photoreceptors in a human eye – each pixel is activated by changes in light, only capturing information when something changes.
Through the SBC, Optera will work closely with Thales Alenia Space and the Thales Group to tackle a key challenge. Indeed, in the space industry, Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) are critical factors when designing and adding any capability on a satellite (eg sensors and antennas). Optera, along with the SBC, will work to demonstrate how EBS can meet these stringent constraints when it comes to optical and infrared sensors. This collaboration aims to assess the long-term sustainability and efficiency of EBS and smart processing in space applications in addition to conventional frame sensors already developed by Thales Alenia Space to answer current and future business cases.
Jonathon Wolfe, Optera founder and CEO, said “The opportunity to work within the Thales Space Business Catalyst and have access to the insights and their technical expertise to rapidly iterate and solve the markets toughest challenges is second to none. Getting close to the customer and having the support of the Thales ecosystem to go to market on a global scale is what Optera is all about. It’s up to us to make this the most of this opportunity”.
Vincent Clot, SBC Director, said “Supporting Optera, beyond the very promising use cases we are tackling together, demonstrates the global outreach of the Acceleration Program of the SBC together and thanks to Thales Group globally. In particular, through the effort initiated by the Thales Australia’s Global Supply Chain Program, we are now able to build together with Optera added value for our space solutions.”
Throughout this engagement, Optera has received valuable support through Thales Australia’s Global Supply Chain (GSC) Program. The GSC Program is a key export initiative of the Australian Department of Defence, working with international primes to develop export opportunities for Australian Industry. For over a decade, Thales has successfully participated in the GSC program, facilitating more than 200 contracts with Australian companies, with an emphasis on partnering with suppliers of innovative and emerging capability that can enhance Thales' global portfolio.