Dozens of researchers and industry partners will work together to inject tools like artificial intelligence and IoT devices into Australian manufacturing operations through a new government-backed hub at Swinburne University.
The Industrial Transformation Research Hub in Future Digital Manufacturing opened on Thursday at the Melbourne university after securing $17.5 million in cash and in kind contributions from the federal government, universities and industry partners.
Its mission is to use advanced technologies to drive a potential 30 per cent uplift in Australian manufacturing productivity and resilience with cutting-edge technologies and approaches like predictive production and digital twins.
The hub will be led by director Professor Dimitrios Georgakopoulos, who will be guided by 18 chief investigators, 11 principal investigators and two operational support staff.
Industry partners include Balluff, Baosteel, Butterfly, City of Logan, CABLEX, Corex Plastics Australia, EzyChef, Innolabs, Memko, Sutton Tools and Sysbox.
The Swinburne hub secured $5 million from the Australian Research Council in 2023 as one of five Industrial Transformation Research Hubs. Others funded hubs are exploring zero emissions power, value add processing of waste and how plants can replace fossil carbon.
The ARC’s Professor Alison Ross said the new digital manufacturing hub represents an opportunity to advance the industry.
“By harnessing the power of AI and IoT technologies, this hub is set to enhance the efficiency and resilience of our production processes,” she said.
“This hub will also play a crucial role in training the next generation of research professionals, ensuring Australia’s leadership in global manufacturing.”
Swinburne is the lead research organisation but the hub will collaborate with Macquarie University, RMIT, University of Queensland, University of Sydney, University of Carolina and the University of Newcastle (UK) to create training opportunities for PhD students and early career research fellows.
The hub opens with research programs in digital twins, and AI and machine learning, as well as an open platform for developing and sharing them.
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