Deep dive into deep tech

News and Insights

25 Years of Cicada Innovations

This November, we celebrate 25 years of deep tech with a once-in-a-generation showcase. Across one special day, experience Australia’s past, present, and future of innovation: the people who shaped our story, the founders building today, and the ideas that will define tomorrow.

Tech23 2025: The stories are here. Relive the magic of Australian deep tech biggest event

Every founder who took the Tech23 stage this year wasn’t just sharing an innovation, they were sharing a blueprint for how Australia can feed itself, power itself, care for its people, and stay competitive in the decades ahead.

Four Years of Impact: The National Space Industry Hub Showcase

Since launching in 2021, the National Space Industry Hub has supported over 30 ventures, accelerated commercial readiness, and played a key role in building Australia’s sovereign space capability.

Meet the 23 deep tech ventures selected for Cicada x Tech23 2025

From artificial kidneys to GPS-free navigation; introducing the 23 ventures taking the stage at Cicada x Tech23 2025 this September.

Cicada Blog

Type of event

Area of Focus

Tech23 2025: The stories are here. Relive the magic of Australian deep tech biggest event

Read here

Building Global Pathways for NSW Health Startups: The Going Global Program

For early-stage health innovators in New South Wales, the road to global impact can feel daunting, especially when navigating complex markets like the United States.

Find Out More

Surge in Aussie deep tech startups but VC, industry, government missing out

Cicada’s latest report exposes a deep tech boom and a critical gap in venture and policy support

7 Key takeaways from Cicada x CSIRO scaling deep tech with the right partners

Scaling a deep tech startup comes with unique challenges - long R&D cycles, capital-intensive development, and complex commercialisation pathways. So, how do we scale deep tech startups with the right partners?

Cicada Spotlight: Dr Diego Correa

Diego Correa joined our Health Tech Hub, General Manager, Lilly Bojaski for a fireside chat in Westmead. Hear his journey and insights below.

Cicada Deep Tech Icons Event: Featuring Niki Scevak, Blackbird Venture

Lessons in Building, Backing, and Believing in Australian Startups

The Cicada Deep Tech Hotline

Share Your Stories, Shape Our Legacy: a simple way to collect the stories that have shaped Cicada, direct from our community.

5 ways to Build and Scale Teams, and Position Australia as a Global Leader in Deep Tech Innovation.

How do we build and scale teams? Build great businesses that solve the world’s biggest challenges? And position Australia as a global leader in deep tech innovation?

‘NSW Health Commercialisation Training Program’ celebrates 10 years

September 19th, 2024

The NSW Health Commercialisation Training Program is this week celebrating its 3,400 participants raising $134.8 million in total while creating 40 new companies, launching 64 cutting-edge products, and initiating 31 new clinical trials in 10 years.

Beyond the Stars: The Evolution of Australia's National Space Industry Hub

September 12th, 2024

Aerospace represents a critical frontier, where innovation is driving advancements in sustainable air transport, uncrewed aviation systems and drones, and national security. These areas are crucial for Australia's defence and economic strategy, and we want to support startups working on breakthrough technologies in these fields.

A Year in Review of the NSW Health Commercialisation Training Program

June 12th, 2024

We are celebrating a remarkable cohort of participants who are helping to create a better health system for people in NSW, Australia and globally. It is a privilege to work alongside hundreds of these innovators who have shown a deep commitment to driving their groundbreaking innovations from an idea to becoming a reality.

How does the Federal Budget affect deep tech innovation, and how does this impact my business?

May 16th, 2024

What this year's Federal Budget means for individuals, startups and deep tech innovation. "This requires aligning the nation on a bold and visionary future through policy levers focussed on long-term, transformational opportunities while also galvanising short-term action to address our current circumstances", commented Cicada Innovations CEO Sally-Ann Williams.

How Ocean Intelligence slashes emissions equivalent to a Sydney to London flight with their technology

June 3rd, 2024

Get to know Shane Keating, Founder of Ocean Intelligence and participant in Cicada's Space Fast Start Program. Shane is also an Associate Professor in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of New South Wales. His research uses powerful mathematical tools to better understand the ocean and our planet.

Cicada Spotlight: John Ridley from Converte

May 14th, 2024

John is an Environmental Scientist with more than 30 years of experience in environmental management across three continents. He brings a wealth of knowledge to The Grains Challenge Program, specialising in biological systems, sustainable resource management and managing carbon. John leverages his extensive background as part of the Elevate program, offering valuable insights to scientists and engineers, that help them unlock the potential of their technologies within the agricultural industry.

Find Out More

Cicada Spotlight: Clyde Webster from Crest Robotics

April 11th, 2024

Get to know Cicada resident and graduate from the National Space Industry Hub Space Elevate and Fast Start Program, Clyde Webster, founder and CEO of Crest Robotics.

Find Out More

Deep Tech Origin Stories: Raj Bagri from Kapture

Welcome to Deep Tech Origin Stories. In this series of articles, we uncover the backstory of some of the most remarkable deep tech start-up founders from around Australia. This series celebrates the breadth, depth and diversity of Australian deep tech founders, and challenges the stereotypes of who gets to build a game changing global business.

Read blog

Cicada Spotlight: Rob Hulme from The Boralis Group

Rob brings a wealth of experience to the table. As CEO of The Boralis Group, he's spent the last 30 years working in global agribusiness, specialising in driving sustainability, circular food systems and helping businesses scale their production. Rob also has experience spotting promising Climate Tech startups as a Venture Partner at Investible, giving him valuable insight into VC expectations.

Exploring the Vast Landscape of Smart Sensing: From IoT to Quantum Sensors and beyond

September 1st, 2023

In this article, written for the NSW Smart Sensing Network’s The Sensor newsletter, Cicada’s Hebbat Manhy shares her thoughts on the evolving world of smart sensing.

Read article

Cicada Spotlight: Alexander Ryan, VXB Aerospace

August 4th, 2023

Get to know Cicada resident and graduate from the National Space Industry Hub Fast Start Program 2023, Alexander Ryan founder and CEO of VXB Aerospace. VXB is producing leading-edge electric propulsion systems using novel AI powered inverse design methods, state-of-the art simulation, and in-house manufacturing.

Read the full spotlight

Cicada Spotlight: Will Jeremijenko

April 20th, 2023

Will Jeremijenko is paving the way for the future of wireless energy-transmission with his company Aquila Earth. This week, we sat down with Will to learn more about his journey as a CEO in the space industry and his work and plans for Aquila Earth going forward.

Read the full spotlight

Australia’s Deep Tech Opportunity Report

This report is a key piece of research into how critical deep tech is in addressing our biggest challenges, and how it is already creating value for Australia in a multitude of ways. It documents how deep tech incubators serve the unique needs of deep tech startups, and sets out a vision for Australia to realise its deep tech potential.

Download the full report

Cicada Spotlights

Check out our Cicada Spotlights of founders and innovators working across agtech, space, medtech, and more.

Aerospace PhD and startup veteran, Tim Parsons has helped shape Australia’s space ecosystem. Now, as Expert in Residence at the National Space Industry Hub, he’s backing the next generation.

Read our Cicada Spotlights 1

Check out more blogs

Our support

Our incubator

Get in the know

Receive the latest news in your sector