The federal government has allocated $10.1 million in funding to help Flinders University expand the Factory of the Future in Adelaide.
Announcing the budget on Wednesday, Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic said the Factory of the Future, which is located at the Tonsley Innovation District, would help more than 200 small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) build their technical capabilities and establish a foothold in critical supply chains.
“The state-of-the-art facility will help develop a dedicated workforce to bridge skills gaps in digital and advanced manufacturing technologies,” Husic said.
More than 100 students a year from Flinders University will benefit from the factory, according to a media release issued by Husic’s office.
The facility is backed by the South Australian government and Flinders University, with additional federal funding to support three years of operation.
South Australia Deputy Premier and Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Susan Close said the combined funding will help SMEs in South Australia access major defence programs and other manufacturing projects.
“I’m delighted to see the $10 million committed by the Albanese Labor Government for the expansion of the Factory of the Future come to fruition,” Minister Close said.
“This in addition to the $4 million the Malinauskas government is providing for the new manufacturing growth accelerator at the Factory of the Future, honouring a key election commitment to bolster capacity in the state’s local manufacturing sector,” she added.
“The Factory of the Future is Australia’s first industrial-scale high-value manufacturing research and accelerator facility. The Federal Government’s support will help to realise the full potential of the Factory of the Future to boost sovereign capacity through manufacturing growth, more jobs and stronger exports,” according to Professor Colin Stirling, Flinders University’s vice-chancellor.
Support for the facility was part of the Albanese Labour Government’s election commitment and is part of an effort to boost the local advanced manufacturing space in Adelaide.
Our Future Made in Australia policy means investing in a future for all Australians, including through the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, Husic said in his statement.
