South Australian manufacturing businesses will have greater access to advanced technologies through a $1 million state government grants program aimed at boosting innovation and productivity.
The South Australian Government has opened round two of the Manufacturing Technology Adoption Program (MTAP), offering grants of up to $50,000 for small and medium-sized businesses to integrate new technologies into their operations. Applicants are required to match the government funding.
The program supports manufacturers in adopting tools such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, advanced robotics, augmented and virtual reality, and Industrial Internet of Things applications.
According to the government, the initiative forms part of South Australia’s Advanced Manufacturing Strategy, which aims to strengthen the state’s global competitiveness and drive growth in high-value industries.
Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Susan Close said the program was designed to help businesses transition to advanced manufacturing and increase their ability to compete globally. “South Australians have always been good at making things,” Dr Close said.
“The Manufacturing Technology Adoption Program is helping small and medium-sized businesses bridge the gap to advanced technologies that can transform their productivity and boost their global competitiveness. By increasing the state’s advanced manufacturing capacity, we’re increasing the state’s economic complexity, building a smarter economy and creating more high-paying jobs.”
In the first round of the program, nearly half a million dollars was awarded to 10 South Australian businesses, including Inovor Technologies, McLaren Vintners, PakPot, ATi Laboratories, Foil Drive, MyModular, Bickford’s Australia, MGA Macro Group, Gelista, and Silver Fleece.
Inovor Technologies, based at Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen innovation district, received funding to construct a Helmholtz Cage, which is used to test satellite instruments in a uniform magnetic field.
The project is expected to improve testing capability as the company takes on more complex spacecraft builds.
Dr Zebb Prime, manager of Mechanical and Modelling and Simulation Engineering at Inovor Technologies, said the investment would allow the company to expand its manufacturing capability.
“As we expand into building more larger, and complex spacecraft, strengthening our in-house testing capabilities is critical,” Dr Prime said.
“The Helmholtz Cage will allow us to conduct rigorous tests on a larger scale, improving both reliability and efficiency. This investment directly supports our mission to deliver world-class, Australian-made space technology with precision, reliability and speed.”
The program is funded through the Department of State Development’s Research and Innovation Fund. Applications for round two of the Manufacturing Technology Adoption Program are now open.
