25 years of impact

Founded in 2000, Cicada Innovations supports science and technology ventures across Australia to develop solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges.

More than two-and-a-half decades on, our mission remains the same: to advance scientific discovery and help innovators build impactful deep tech businesses that shape a better future.

25 Years of Deep Tech

Cicada Innovations was established in 2000 in Sydney. Supported by our founding shareholders – ANU, UNSW, USYD and UTS – the vision was to bring together business, engineering, and science to build companies tackling complex global challenges.

Since our inception, we’ve supported more than 500 deep tech ventures, who have raised $6.5 billion in funding and achieved over $1.4 billion in exits. For every public dollar invested to establish Cicada, more than $400 in economic activity has been generated, proof of the outsized impact of long-term investment in deep tech.

Today, Cicada has grown into a national network with incubators in Eveleigh, Westmead, and Melbourne, and programs such as the Health Commercialisation Training Program and the National Space Industry Hub. We’re also proud custodians of Cicada × Tech23 - Australia’s flagship platform for deep tech innovators and leaders.

Our incubators

Cicada Incubator Eveleigh, NSW

Our flagship incubator empowering Australia’s deep tech ventures

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HealthTech Hub Westmead, NSW

Innovation hub supporting transformative healthtech startups

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Jumar Bioincubator Parkville, VIC

Specialised incubator for biotech startups advancing life sciences

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Commercialisation Support

Cicada’s programs are Australia’s most comprehensive pathway for deep tech founders. 

Designed by experts and backed by government and industry, they equip entrepreneurs with the skills, tools and connections needed to transform an idea from start (Foundations), and scale (Elevate), to gaining traction (Stride).

Our Areas of Focus

From the future of human health to space technology, we’re focused on supporting ventures working on some of the world’s most pressing problems and promising opportunities.

Meet the team

Behind Cicada is a team of smart, mission-driven people who care deeply about helping deep tech founders succeed. 

A mix of commercialisation experts, lab managers, program leads and community builders, ‘Team Cicada’ is united by a shared commitment to growing Australia’s deep tech economy.

Transitioning to a Complex Economy

We believe Australia’s future economy needs to prioritise science and engineering. Our vision is an economy led by R&D that invests in scientific endeavour, discovery and invention.

The thing that we've enjoyed most about being a part of Cicada is the community. Being around other companies that are tackling challenging problems like us, really gives us an opportunity to work together, bounce ideas off one another.

Tim Vale

Co-Founder & CEO at Telemattica

Our incubator

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