SA opens Manufacturing Technologies Centre

A state government funded new Manufacturing Technologies Centre in Adelaide will aim to help businesses adopt new technologies including robotics, advanced materials and big data.

The centre has been allocated $1.2 million in funding over the three years to June 2018. It will work with South Australia’s three main universities, interstate and overseas researchers as well as financial institutions and global supply chains to provide free advice to industry.

Businesses will be able to use the facility to develop collaborative alliances and overcome barriers to modernisation through the adoption of advanced technologies.

“South Australia’s economy is moving towards a high-value, high-tech future that will pose many challenges as the manufacturing industry evolves,” South Australian Manufacturing and Innovation Minister Kyam Maher said.

“With change comes opportunity and we need to take bold actions, adopt new ways of doing things and use advanced technologies to build globally competitive, high-value firms and access new global markets.”

The initiative forms part of the state government’s Northern Economic Plan, which aims to ensure economic and social transformation in Northern Adelaide once Holden closes next year.

Manufacturing is one of several priority sectors identified in the plan, which also includes health and disabilities, agriculture and food, defence, tourism and culture, construction and urban renewal as well as mining equipment and services.

The centre is located at the University of South Australia’s (UniSA) Mawson Lakes campus. Vice Chancellor David Lloyd said the university has had links with the manufacturing industry since its inception.

“Today, UniSA continues to deliver world-class research supporting industry and business innovation and underpinning local technological advancements and the education of new professionals to take their place in the sector,” he said.

“The new centre is set to become a showcase of collaborative practice at its best, with research, industry, education and government working together to create outcomes that will have an ongoing benefit to South Australia and its industries.”

Image courtesy of spencer cooper under CC