News, Business & Finance
Innovation Precinct headquarters opened
Industry and Innovation Minister, Greg Combet has opened the headquarters of Australia’s first Industry Innovation Precinct – a key plank in the government’s $1 billion Plan for Australian Jobs.
“By bringing together our best research minds and our most innovative businesses, Industry Innovation Precincts will create Australian businesses and industries that can compete on the world stage,” Mr Combet said.
The federal government will invest more than $500 million in establishing Industry Innovation Precincts around Australia.
The Precincts bring together industry, companies, universities, research institutions and experts in technology and business.
The Australian Jobs Plan includes the provision of $23 million through the Industrial Transformation Research Program to fund food industry research.
The Manufacturing Precinct is the first of up to 10 Precincts that will focus on areas of Australian competitive advantage or emerging opportunity.
“It will bring together businesses, research institutions, service providers and government agencies to support and create internationally-competitive manufacturing businesses and jobs,” said Mr Combet.
“The Manufacturing Precinct will help Australian manufacturers to improve skills and technologies, to tap into research expertise and to build collaborations.”
Chaired by experienced industry executive, Albert Goller, the Manufacturing Precinct will work closely with Australia's best manufacturers and researchers who will come together as foundation members.
The Manufacturing Precinct will be headquartered in the New Horizons building at the Clayton Campus of Monash University in Melbourne's south east. It will be situated alongside 400 staff from Monash and CSIRO, specialising in research into advanced manufacturing, biological engineering and renewable energy.
The Manufacturing Precinct will operate nationally through a network linking manufacturers and researchers. It will also have a presence in Adelaide focusing on defence-related manufacturing.