Australia's Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has released $18 million in grants under the first round of the New and Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships.

“The Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships programme will ensure our aviation sector remains at the forefront of innovation as it continues to develop and grow, particularly with renewed focus on achieving net zero carbon emissions,” says minister Catherine King.

This grant makes it clear that there is strong policy support for advanced air mobility in Australia at a federal government level, and backs up the recent roadmap released by air regulator CASA to develop the drone and air taxi market in the country.

Skyportz is its only vertiport infrastructure company and has been working for four years to encourage the development of advanced air mobility policy at all levels of government, particularly in the space of essential vertiport infrastructure.

“We are really pleased about this announcement as it is putting resources into drones and air taxi developments that will one day help our network of vertiports to fulfil their potential,” says CEO Clem Newton-Brown.

Skyportz has over 400 potential sites owned by property partners wanting to get a first mover advantage in this emerging industry. It is set to close its second seed fundraise to develop its first prototype vertiport. With over 180 new investors this will bring the total equity shareholder number to over 600 investors.

“The key to this industry is breaking the nexus between aviation and existing airports. We need to develop a network of new vertiport sites if the industry is to reach its potential, and Skyportz is readying the landscape to partner with infrastructure investors,” he concludes.