Flinders Uni, Cisco launch Innovation Central Adelaide

Flinders University and Cisco have launched a new initiative aimed at supporting Adelaide’s transformation into an advanced manufacturing hub.

Innovation Central Adelaide will act as a hub for using advanced design and visualisation technologies to solve business problems facing small and medium-sized enterprises.

Run out of Flinders University’s new Digital Transformation Laboratory at the Tonsley Innovation District, the hub will contribute to a national advanced technology network, complementing sister facilities in NSW, WA and Queensland.

The hub will help South Australian companies apply cutting-edge design processes, rapid prototyping, simulation, and high tech visualisation technologies that they would otherwise be unable to access, according to Flinders Pro Vice-Chancellor of Research Innovation Professor John Spoehr.

“In addition, companies will be able to use Innovation Central Adelaide to experiment with a range of robotics and automation technologies,” he said.

“Initial trials supported by the new facility will focus on collaboration systems, industrial networking, automation, industrial security, wireless systems and industrial sensor solutions.”

Spoehr said the facility will join the National Industry Innovation Network (NIIN), a Cisco-led industry and university alliance aimed at solving industry challenges through the adoption of technology solutions.

Cisco is co-funding the NIIN through its $61 million Country Digital Acceleration for Australia program.

Image caption: (left to right) Professor Rob Saint; Professor John Spoehr; Ben Dawson, VP Cisco ANZ; Professor Trish Williams.