The application for $15 million to create New Zealand's first satellite programme from an Alexandra space research centre has progressed to the next stage in the Regional Research Institutes initiative.
The project is led by Alexandra research group Bodeker Scientific. Director Greg Bodeker said yesterday he was ‘‘very excited'' to learn it had made the initial shortlist chosen by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment from 24 applicants.
‘‘We don't know how short the shortlist is - we're told that information is commercially sensitive - but it's very exciting and very encouraging to make it to the next stage,'' Dr Bodeker said.
Initially, he thought the chance of gaining funding was slim but now the project had crossed the first hurdle and he knew how many applicants there were, he thought the chances had increased to about 50%.‘‘This will be huge for Alexandra if it goes ahead.
‘‘We'll probably have 25 new families shifting into town [to work on the project].
''The operating budget for the first three years of the centre was $7 million to $9 million per year and roughly 40% would go to the centre operation in Alexandra, meaning a boost of about $2.8 million-$3.6 million a year for the Alexandra economy.
Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper said the shortlisting was ‘‘fantastic news'', an endorsement of the work done by Dr Bodeker and the project developers ‘‘and we're excited to see how far we can go with this''.
Three of the centre steering group members will make a presentation to a panel in Wellington on Monday.
