Working together to build deep tech innovations that benefits everyone

The most complex global challenges we face won’t be solved by any one organisation acting alone. 

Our mission is to foster mutually beneficial relationships between the Cicada community, forward-thinking organisations, executives and policymakers to further the impact of deep tech in Australia.

300+

ventures supported over two decades

Thousands

of innovators trained across Australia

30+

innovation partnerships & collaborations

Cicada is a trusted partner to help industry solve problems, navigate the deep tech and innovation ecosystem and build deep tech commercialisation skills and capacity.

As your partner, we convene and mobilise an ecosystem around your biggest challenges to help you at every stage of your innovation journey and develop and deliver programs to commercialise deep tech innovation.

Cicada x Tech23

Showcasing 23 of Australia’s most promising early-stage ventures, Cicada x Tech23 is an annual festival celebrating radical innovation and brave ideas from the world of deep tech.

We're looking for partners who want to support entrepreneurs pursuing audacious goals and rally behind pioneering technology that can benefit all of Australia.

Learn more about sponsorship

Industry

We work with corporates and industry partners looking to navigate the innovation ecosystem, adopt new technology or build their own innovation capabilities. We help you unlock opportunity through innovation by curating and connecting you to a diverse range of startups and innovators.

Public Sector

We have a long history of partnering with state and federal government to support the growth of deep tech so it can benefit industries, deliver impact for the economy, and the public. We develop specialist training to support innovators working on health, space, industry 4.0, and agtech innovations.

Organisations we've partnered with

National Industry Space Hub

In 2021, Cicada Innovations was named the operator of the National Space Industry Hub, an Investment NSW initiative part of NSW Government's Space Industry Development Strategy.

The Space Hub offers a physical space, resources, mentoring, and connections for emerging space ventures and researchers. As well as commercialisation training programs nationally to share essential knowledge for anyone on the path of creating a space tech venture.

Impact

Building on Cicada's twenty years experience of growing and nascent deep tech industries, the National Space Industry Hub is already home to 10 space tech ventures and organisations.

The Space Hub is the meeting place for the space industry to convene, collaborate and champion each other, helping to accelerate the growth of the NSW space ecosystem and make Australia competitive in global space industry.

NSW Health: Medical Device Commercialisation Training Program

From 2014 - 2020 Cicada Innovations was the delivery partner for the NSW Health’s Office of Health and Medical Research's Medical Device Commercialisation Training Program (MDCTP). The program focused on helping researchers and early stage entrepreneurs with technology validation, customer discovery and building an understanding of the end-user needs, and market opportunity.

Impact

During six years that Cicada delivered the program we achieved:

  • 1000 workshop attendees

  • 96 program graduates, who went on to;

  • Create 19 medtech companies

  • Who have raised over $80m of funding and continue to grow

Pioneer Partners

Our Pioneer Partners offering is for businesses looking to innovate or connect with deep tech innovate. We fast-track this process by connecting you to a community of problem solvers, makers and brilliant minds who are uniquely positioned to unearth unexpected solutions, new opportunities, and who are building the businesses of tomorrow.

Our Pioneer Partners

Radium Capital is delighted to partner with Cicada Innovations. Through Cicada’s Pioneer Partner initiative, Radium is able to help deep-tech innovators create the right financial strategy for their businesses. Our alliance makes it even easier for Cicada members to access Radium Advances — the affordable, non-dilutionary funding deep-tech innovators need to grow. Beyond capital access for members, it has also been an absolute pleasure to join forces with Cicada on a host of training and mentoring activities for community members.

Radium Capital

Co-founder David Brennan of Radium

Meet our residents

Notable ventures

The challenges our ventures tackle

Areas of focus

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