Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic has unveiled the members of a National Robotics Strategy Advisory Committee that would establish Australia’s strategy for emerging automation technologies.
The committee will develop a national strategy that would ensure Australia harnesses opportunities in robotics and automation, advanced manufacturing, and agriculture.
The advisory group is slated to meet for the first time today, 13 December, chaired by Professor Bronwyn Fox, chief scientist of CSIRO.
Other members of the National Robotics Strategy Advisory Committee also include Australian National University’s Associate Professor Catherine Ball; Andrew Dettmer, national president for the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union; Professor Hugh Durant-White, New South Wales chief scientist and engineer; Sue Keay, founder and chair of the Robotics Australia Grop; Simon Lucey, director of Australian Institute of Machine Learning; Professor Julia Powles, director of UWA Minderoo Tech & Policy Lab; and Mike Zimmerman, a Main Sequence Ventures partner.
The committee is intended to convene some of Australia’s leading robotics and technology leaders and practitioners to guide the way robotics are developed and used, Husic said in a media release.
“We also want to ensure that we develop our robotic strength alongside human skills, delivering secure well-paid jobs,” the minister said.
Husic said robotics companies have been estimated to be worth approximately $18 billion in annual revenue in 2021, up from $12 billion in 2018.
“Australian-made and maintained robotics and automation systems have the potential to boost local manufacturing, open up export opportunities and create safer and more productive work environments,” Husic said.
Supporting Australia’s industrial capabilities has been announced as one of the Albanese government’s priorities. The initiative is also supported by the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, with $1 billion in investment allocated for Australia’s critical technology capability, such as quantum, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
“Australia has a lot of the key elements that can help in the development of national robotics capabilities: our people, research and manufacturing skills. And while we’re recognised as possessing strength in field robotics, we can do better, across a wider range of activities,” Husic added.
