Image credit: swinburne.edu.au
Swinburne University of Technology has teamed up with the Australian Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) to boost the adoption of Industry 4.0 processes increasing Australian manufacturing competitiveness.
Image credit: swinburne.edu.au
Industry 4.0 refers to the next stage of modern manufacturing – a paradigm shift towards smart factories that merge cyber systems with physical systems.
The partnership will see AMGC invest $250,000 in the Swinburne Manufacturing Futures Research Institute (MFI), which was established with the purpose of inviting Australian manufacturing firms to collaborate with Swinburne’s researchers to resolve complex business issues through the adoption of Industry 4.0 processes.
The funding will be used to support growth projects at the Institute’s Industry 4.0 TestLab, enabling researchers to work with small to medium sized manufacturers to help them become more agile and productive.
“I am very pleased to put our organisation’s support behind Swinburne’s new initiative. It represents a deep commitment to our manufacturing sector and shows that there is enormous potential in our country to increase our global competitiveness through adopting the latest manufacturing technology and processes,” said AMGC’s Chairman Andrew Stevens.
Director of the Institute, Professor Bronwyn Fox, said the world is entering a new era of interaction among parts, machines and humans that will see enormous economic growth in Australia.
“The new institute will link research centres and researchers with industry, business and community to maximise research impact in industrial automation, industrial internet, new manufacturing processes for new generation materials, and design-driven manufacturing innovation,” Ms Fox said.
The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre is part of the Government’s $248 million Industry Growth Centres Initiative, an industry-led approach to driving innovation, productivity and competitiveness through investing in key industry sectors.
The MFI is the first of Swinburne’s new research institutes that will foster interdisciplinary collaboration. Swinburne’s new Innovation Precinct will provide the environment to nurture such developments.
