South Australian companies will be able to share knowledge and experience to drive the uptake of emerging technologies under a new initiative set-up by the Marshall Liberal Government.
Speaking at a Disruptive Technologies in Manufacturing event this morning, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment David Ridgway said Emerging Technology Interest Group’s will be established around virtual reality; machine learning, additive manufacturing and data-driven decision-making and leverage the expertise of South Australian universities and lead researchers.
“The evolution towards Industry 4.0 represents several unique challenges for South Australian businesses, including access to knowledge and independent advice, strategic view of technology, digital maturity and access to the necessary skills,” Mr Ridgway said.
“What we are trying to do with these interest groups is build closer connections between advanced manufacturers and provide a platform for companies to share their experiences and help accelerate the uptake of new technologies.
“This initiative is the next phase of a pilot project our Government ran with Flinders University in setting up a Robotics and Automation Interest Group. The feedback from participants in this group has been overwhelmingly supportive which has encouraged us to expand it into more sub-sectors.”
Minister Ridgway said access to knowledge and independent advice is crucial for companies seeking to develop a strategic view of technology and to build digital maturity to leverage new technologies for commercial advantage.
“South Australia has a very long history of manufacturing which is transitioning into new, more advanced industries including space, energy and future mobility and will rely on new materials and processes to be competitive,” Mr Ridgway said.
“Our state provides a solid platform for new and existing manufacturers to grow and invest, with strong, developed skills in automotive, defence, photonics, space and frontier materials.
“A higher uptake of these emerging technologies will enable businesses to become more competitive and leverage technology to enter new global markets.”
Mr Ridgway said as new technologies reach industrial maturity, the interest group model can be expanded to include new emerging sectors, such as blockchain, or other technologies that have the potential to improve industry productivity and global competitiveness.
“The Marshall Liberal Government is committed to building a dynamic advanced manufacturing ecosystem and strong value chains, creating an environment for businesses to grow from concept to full commercialisation,” Mr Ridgway said.
