The Federal Government has launched a new industry-research collaboration designed to support advanced manufacturing and South Australia’s defence sector.
The project – to be co-funded by the Government’s Innovative Manufacturing CRC (IMCRC), BAE Systems Australia and ASC Shipbuilding – involves the development of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies that will be used to build nine anti-submarine Hunter class frigates at ASC’s shipyard in Osbourne.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the investment would strengthen the research capacity at the collaboration lab at Tonsley Innovation District in Adelaide’s south.
“The building of these frigates is a true project of the digital age and these new researchers will significantly increase the firepower of the research effort already underway at the collaboration lab,” Minister Andrews said.
“This project is an example of my determination to bring business and researchers together, to do things better and drive industry forward.
“The ideas and new practices developed as part of this research will not only benefit the frigates project but the Australian manufacturing sector in general.”
Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price noted that the nine anti-submarine warfare frigates being built at the ASC shipyard in Osborne are using local workers and Australian steel.
“South Australia has a critical role to play in delivering our $90 billion Naval Shipbuilding Plan, with local workers building two Offshore Patrol Vessels, nine frigates and 12 Attack class submarines,” Minister Price said.
“We’re talking about a generation of shipbuilding work which will create thousands of local jobs.”
