Innovation and Collaboration Centre

What Innovation and Collaboration Centre does

The Innovation and Collaboration Centre (ICC) is a university-backed startup accelerator and incubator operated by Adelaide University in South Australia. Founded in 2015 and inherited under Adelaide University following the 2024 merger of the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia, ICC runs equity-free six-month acceleration programs — Venture Catalyst (general), Venture Catalyst Space (the state's first space industry incubator), and Venture Launchpad: Space and Defence — together with the ActInSpace hackathon. Accepted founders receive a $10,000 AUD equity-free stipend, retain all intellectual property, and are not charged program fees.

ICC's core technology is intentionally sector-agnostic; the centre supports startups across space and defence, climate, health, artificial intelligence, AgTech, and creative industries. Service delivery is built around physical workspace at Adelaide University's Enterprise and Innovation Hub at 9 Light Square, structured cohort-based programming, expert mentoring, and peer-to-peer learning. The centre also hosts Australia's only ActInSpace competition, a 24-hour global space innovation hackathon.

ICC is funded institutionally by Adelaide University, the South Australian Government (including the Department of State Development and the State Government's Space Innovation Fund), and the South Australian Space Industry Centre. It does not generate direct commercial revenue from startups; the operating model is grant-funded rather than equity-backed. More than 120 startups have gone through the program since 2015, with 14 startups in the 2026 Venture Catalyst cohort and 6 space startups graduating from the 2025 Venture Catalyst Space cohort.

Name

Innovation and Collaboration Centre

Legal name

Adelaide University

Website

https://icc.unisa.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Innovation and Collaboration Centre (ICC) is an Adelaide University–backed, equity-free startup accelerator running six-month Venture Catalyst, space, and defence programs plus the ActInSpace hackathon for early-stage founders across multiple technology verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator and Incubation Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

akta.pro primary industry

Advanced Project-Based Learning & Portfolio Mentoring (STEM/arts portfolios, maker projects) (EDANAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Research & Science Fair Competitions (Science Fairs, Research Symposiums) (EDAMAGAL)

Keywords

• Startup accelerator programs
• Venture incubation services
• Equity-free innovation
• Space industry incubator
• Startup mentoring programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Adelaide

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding: ICC is funded by Adelaide University, the South Australian Government, and the State Government's Space Innovation Fund. The center operates as a non-profit incubator providing equity-free programs to startups, rather than generating direct revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ICC is a university-affiliated startup accelerator operating structured, equity-free six-month programs (Venture Catalyst and Venture Catalyst Space) that provide selected early-stage founders with workspace, expert mentoring, peer-to-peer cohort learning, and a $10,000 AUD equity-free stipend while founders retain all intellectual property. The center also runs Venture Launchpad: Space and Defence (specialized space/defence program) and hosts Australia's only ActInSpace 24-hour global space innovation hackathon. Programs are supported by Adelaide University, the South Australian Government (State Government's Space Innovation Fund), and the South Australian Space Industry Centre.

Product overview

The Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC) is an accelerator and incubator organization offering a portfolio of startup programs. Its core offerings include Venture Catalyst (a general six-month equity-free acceleration program with $10,000 AUD stipend), Venture Catalyst Space (South Australia's first space industry incubator), Venture Launchpad: Space and Defence (specialized program for space and defence founders), and ActInSpace (a global 24-hour space innovation hackathon). These programs provide workspace, expert mentoring, funding stipends, and peer-to-peer learning to help early-stage founders build sustainable, investment-ready businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Venture Catalyst A six-month equity-free startup acceleration program providing a $10,000 AUD equity-free stipend, expert mentoring, workspace, peer-to-peer learning, and full intellectual property retention for early-stage founders developing innovative products, services, or business models with potential to compete in global markets. Supported by Adelaide University.
• Venture Catalyst Space South Australia's first space industry incubator — a six-month acceleration program providing a $10,000 AUD equity-free stipend, customized support, and full IP retention for founders building scalable, investment-ready businesses in the space sector (satellite communications, in-orbit services, space data analytics). Supported by the South Australian Space Industry Centre and the State Government's Space Innovation Fund.
• Venture Launchpad: Space and Defence A specialized startup program focused on the space and defence sectors, providing tailored support, expert mentoring, and program features designed for founders building ventures in space and defence.
• ActInSpace Australia's only ActInSpace competition — a 24-hour global space innovation hackathon hosted by ICC that challenges participants to transform space technologies into real-world commercial solutions, serving as a talent and startup pipeline for ICC's accelerator programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 120 startups supported to disrupt markets with next-generation technology and innovation
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• South Australian GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe South Australian Government is a key strategic partner supporting the Innovation & Collaboration Centre. The government provides funding through the Department of State Development and the State Government's Space Innovation Fund for the Venture Catalyst Space program.
• South Australian Space Industry CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe South Australian Space Industry Centre supports the Venture Catalyst Space program as the state's first space incubator. This partnership provides space-focused startups with specialized industry connections and credibility.
• Adelaide UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdelaide University is the parent institution of the Innovation & Collaboration Centre, providing institutional infrastructure, academic expertise, research capabilities, and legitimacy to the startup programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Stone & Chalk: Australian fintech and emerging-tech hub providing startup programs, workspace, and corporate connections. Comparable to ICC as an Australian startup ecosystem enabler, though Stone & Chalk is more commercially focused and based in Sydney/Melbourne rather than Adelaide.

Direct peers

• UNSW Founders: University of New South Wales' startup program offering accelerator cohorts and founder support. Comparable to ICC as another Australian research university running cohort-based, equity-free startup acceleration programs.
• Antler: Global early-stage venture accelerator running cohort-based programs with strong Australian presence. Comparable to ICC as a structured, cohort-driven founder accelerator, though Antler typically takes equity whereas ICC is equity-free.
• Startupbootcamp: Global accelerator operator running vertical-specific programs including space and emerging-tech cohorts. Highly comparable to ICC's Venture Catalyst Space given the vertical-specialised, cohort-based delivery model.
• UQ Ventures (University of Queensland): University of Queensland's startup and entrepreneurship program. Directly comparable to ICC as a research-university-affiliated accelerator delivering structured programs to early-stage founders in Australia.
• Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP): University of Melbourne's flagship startup accelerator. Directly comparable as an Australian university-affiliated equity-free accelerator offering structured cohorts, mentoring, and workspace to early-stage founders.
• CSIRO ON Accelerate: Australia's national science agency accelerator, supporting deep-tech and research-derived startups. Comparable to ICC as an Australian, publicly-funded, equity-free accelerator focused on translating research into investable ventures.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Global accelerator network running industry-specific cohorts. Comparable to ICC as a cohort-based accelerator operator, though Techstars is much larger, equity-taking, and globally distributed.
• Y Combinator: World-leading startup accelerator. Comparable to ICC in function (cohort-based early-stage acceleration), but materially larger, equity-taking, and globally recognised — useful as the benchmark ICC alumni implicitly compete against for follow-on capital.

Others

• South Australian Space Industry Centre: South Australian state government body that funds and coordinates the local space industry and is itself a key ICC partner. Relevant as an ecosystem partner and adjacent enabler rather than a direct accelerator competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iccunisa
• Facebookfacebook.com/iccunisa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-south-australia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Innovation and Collaboration Centre