A new manufacturing-focused partnership between the University of Canberra and OMRON Automation and Robotics Oceania aims to strengthen Australia’s capabilities in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital manufacturing, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise collaboration on workforce development and industrial innovation.
The agreement brings together the university and the industrial automation company to expand joint work in robotics, AI, digital twin technologies and advanced manufacturing, with both organisations framing the initiative as a step toward building a “future-ready” workforce for increasingly automated industries.
It also builds on an existing collaboration, with OMRON technologies already integrated into the University of Canberra’s Collaborative Robotics Lab.
University leaders said the partnership would help position Canberra as a growing centre for intelligent systems and advanced manufacturing research.
Vice-Chancellor and President Professor The Honourable Bill Shorten said the city’s ecosystem of research, government proximity and industry collaboration placed it in a strong position to lead in robotics innovation.
“With the powerful combination of research capability, government proximity and industry collaboration, Canberra is uniquely positioned to become the country’s heartland for robotics and systems innovation,” Shorten said.
He added that the collaboration with OMRON reflects a shared objective to prepare students for future industrial needs. “UC’s partnership with OMRON is built on a shared vision of developing a future-ready workforce, while advancing the technologies that will shape the future of manufacturing, logistics and automation,” he said.
OMRON Automation and Robotics Oceania managing director Henry Zhou said the agreement reflects the company’s long-term commitment to supporting Australia’s advanced manufacturing capability and skills pipeline.
“OMRON is proud to partner with the University of Canberra to help bridge industry and academia in areas that are critical to Australia’s future competitiveness,” Zhou said. “This collaboration brings together advanced robotics, AI, automation and digital twin technologies to help develop practical innovation pathways from research and prototyping through to industrial deployment.”
He added that workforce development is central to the partnership as manufacturing becomes increasingly digitised. “As advanced manufacturing rapidly evolves, partnerships like this are essential to building a future-ready workforce with the practical skills needed for increasingly digital and automated industries.”
The Embassy of Japan in Australia also welcomed the collaboration, with First Secretary and Science Attaché Shin Takakusagi highlighting the broader international dimension of the initiative.
“The partnership between the University of Canberra and OMRON represents an excellent example of how Japanese technology and Australian research institutions can work together to drive innovation and industrial transformation,” Takakusagi said.
“We look forward to seeing this partnership contribute to the future of advanced manufacturing, AI and robotics collaboration between Japan and Australia.”
Under the three-year MoU, both organisations will collaborate on robotics research, workforce training and applied innovation projects, with a focus on translating emerging technologies into manufacturing and logistics applications.
Professor Damith Herath, Founding Director of the Collaborative Robotics Lab, said the partnership is already generating industry-linked research opportunities.
“The initial focus will be on robotics, AI, automation for logistics and warehousing, and digital twin-enabled industrial systems, with the longer-term vision of establishing a jointly supported innovation hub within UC’s Collaborative Robotics Lab,” Herath said.
OMRON’s Head of Robotics, Luat Nguyen, said the collaboration will also provide students with direct exposure to industrial systems used in modern manufacturing environments.
“Through this partnership, students and researchers will gain hands-on access to industrial robotics, autonomous mobile robots, machine automation systems and digital twin environments that closely mirror modern manufacturing operations,” Nguyen said.
“By combining academic research with practical industrial technology, we can help accelerate innovation while building workforce capability for Australia’s rapidly evolving automation sector.”
According to OMRON, the partnership is also expected to influence curriculum development and expand student opportunities, including internships and work-integrated learning placements, as both organisations seek to align education more closely with the demands of advanced manufacturing industries.
