The Albanese Labor Government is giving a boost to advanced manufacturing by supporting the expansion of the Factory of the Future in Adelaide.

Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, today announced that funding of $10.1 million will be in next weekโ€™s Budget to help Flinders University grow the facility, located at the Tonsley Innovation District.

Mr 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.

โ€œWe are delivering on our election commitment to support the Factory of the Future, delivered for Adelaide and local manufacturing.

โ€œWe want Australia to be a country that makes things both now and well into the future.

 

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โ€œThe state-of-the art facility will help develop a dedicated workforce to bridge skills gaps in digital and advanced manufacturing technologies,โ€ Minister Husic said.

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

โ€œWe need to build strategic industry capability and strengthen our ability to harness technologies to future proof our prosperity and national wellbeing,โ€ Minister Husic said.

โ€œThis investment will foster economic growth by helping create new jobs in emerging industries.โ€

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

South Australiaโ€™s Deputy Premier and Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Dr Susan Close MP, said: โ€œIโ€™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.

โ€œThis 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 stateโ€™s local manufacturing sector.

โ€œThe combined funding will help small-to-medium South Australian businesses access major defence programs and other manufacturing projects and enterprises.โ€

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

โ€œThe Factory of the Future is Australiaโ€™s first industrial-scale high-value manufacturing research and accelerator facility. The Federal Governmentโ€™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.

โ€œAlongside visionary initiatives like our Diploma of Digital Technologies to upskill the future workforce, the foundations are being strengthened for South Australiaโ€™s revitalisation as an advanced manufacturing state.โ€

Advanced manufacturing is a priority for the Albanese Labor Government. Our Future Made in Australia policy means investing in a future for all Australians, including through the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund.

Originally published by The Hon Ed Husic MP Minister for Industry and Science