The South Australia (SA) Government has opened a new centre to promote the growth of local space industry and create new high-tech jobs in the field.

The new South Australian Space Industry Centre (SASIC) is situated within the Defence SA headquarters on Pirie St in Adelaide and expected to help the region in becoming part of the country’s pending National Space Agency.

SASIC aims to leverage the work of the existing Space Industry Office at Defence SA and develop new innovation and research in the field of space.

“SASIC will deliver opportunities for manufacturers to transition to a high-growth sector, enable start-ups to flourish, and create jobs of the future.”

The centre will initially employ a director, aerospace specialist and senior project officer, who will be supported by an Australian Department of State Development and Investment Attraction SA representative.

To be advised by the South Australian Space Council, SASIC will provide up to A$1m ($795,342) a year in funding to young space entrepreneurs, as well as new and existing space start-ups.

SA Premier Jay Weatherill said: “Many people think ‘space’ is about astronauts and rockets. It so much more than that, it has become part of our everyday lives, from our daily weather forecasts to using our mobile phones.

“As an industry, space is growing at more than three times the world annual GDP. The potential is enormous and opportunities abundant.

“SASIC will deliver opportunities for manufacturers to transition to a high-growth sector, enable start-ups to flourish, and create jobs of the future.”

Australia’s current space industry is estimated to be valued between A$3bn ($2.3bn) and A$4bn ($3.1bn) per annum and employs 11,500 full-time workers.