Federal government to boost funding for Factory of the Future

The federal government has announced support for the expansion of the Factory of the Future in Adelaide. Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic announced that funding of $10.1 million will be in next week’s Budget to help Flinders University grow the facility, located at the Tonsley Innovation District.

Husic said the Factory of the Future would work with more than 200 small-to-medium enterprises to build their technological capabilities and help them gain a foothold in critical supply chains.

“We want Australia to be a country that makes things both now and well into the future,” he said. “The state-of-the art facility will help develop a dedicated workforce to bridge skills gaps in digital and advanced manufacturing technologies.”

It is estimated that more than 100 students a year from Flinders University will benefit from the Factory of the Future.

“We need to build strategic industry capability and strengthen our ability to harness technologies to futureproof our prosperity and national wellbeing,” Husic continued.

The facility will be co-funded by investment by the South Australian Government and Flinders University. Federal funding is over three years. The South Australian Government is also contributing $4 million.

Flinders University Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling thanked the government for its future-focused investment.

“The Factory of the Future is Australia’s first industrial-scale high-value manufacturing research and accelerator facility,” he said. “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.

“Alongside visionary initiatives like our Diploma of Digital Technologies to upskill the future workforce, the foundations are being strengthened for South Australia’s revitalisation as an advanced manufacturing state.”