Innovation Innovating Australian manufacturing together Manufacturers’ Monthly speaks with Cori Stewart, CEO of the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub, about the need for innovative models, infrastructure and networked approaches to grow the nation’s manufacturers.
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HE gap between industry and research is a phenomenon that is widely known in Australian manufacturing. That is one reason why the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub came to exist. Manufacturers are calling out for support to navigate an innovation and automation path for their business, and they often end up at ARM Hub’s door. ARM Hub addresses the needs
of manufacturers by enabling and simplifying access to the deep technical expertise available in universities and research institutes, the same innovation skills that rank Australia in the top 15 innovating nations in the world. The company’s CEO, Dr Cori Stewart, is passionate about sharing this unique talent and the benefits to our economy from advancing manufacturing in Australia. Currently, Australia ranks 86 of 133 nations in terms of global
complexity driven by a lack of diversification of exports. And, whilst the nation’s innovation capabilities rank highly, the commercialisation of these innovations ranks much lower. “Covid has really brought to bear, the essential parts of having a sovereign manufacturing capability,” Stewart said. “The critical part is having talent to create this sovereign capability. It has really revealed to us exactly how smart and strategic other nations
are about aligning themselves to be successful.” For ARM Hub, it’s about Australia competing on the global stage by increasing “high value” manufacturing that cannot be achieved elsewhere, rather than competing on price. “Australia, as a smaller country, needs to be a really successful trading nation alongside having its own capability,” Stewart said. “We really need to look at investing more in high- value product
ARM Hub COO, Samuel Jesuadian, demonstrates a robot at the Learning Factory, located in the Queensland University of Technology.
24 SEPTEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly
manmonthly.com.au
