Regional Development Australia (RDA) Gold Coast has launched the Industry 4.0 Business and Investment Project, supported by our new website, to help build on the Gold Coast’s technology strengths and transform the economy into an internationally competitive innovation powerhouse.
‘Industry 4.0’ (or the Fourth Industrial Revolution) refers to the automation and digitization of supply chains, and includes technologies such as big data, robotics, computer-assisted manufacturing, cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), additive manufacturing (3d printing), artificial intelligence, virtual reality, digital twin (virtual modelling), machine to machine communications, nanotechnology, blockchain, and sensor technologies.
Industry 4.0 sees businesses become increasingly automated and self-monitoring as machines can analyse and communicate with each other, improving efficiencies in the process.
RDA Gold Coast Director of Regional Development Estella Rodighiero said the project, developed in partnership with the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, City of Gold Coast and the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, has identified significant Industry 4.0 capabilities across a number of key sectors on the Gold Coast.
These include advanced manufacturing, health and medical technology, space and aerospace, textiles, additive manufacturing, food technology, sport and film.
“We have an AI health cluster at Southport, an aerospace cluster on the northern Gold Coast, a textiles cluster at Yatala, medtech and bionics at Southport, film visual effects at Oxenford, a brewing cluster at Burleigh and additive manufacturing at Southport, just to name a few,” she said.
Supporting the development of these emerging clusters and attracting complementary supply chain businesses will be a key driver of new investment and the jobs of the future on the Gold Coast.
The report identifies other key competitive advantages for the Gold Coast including:
- An advanced and collaborative university, TAFE and training sector, which includes Griffith University, Bond University and Southern Cross University
- The Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct fostering and attracting clusters of Industry 4.0 activity in the areas of medical technology, health AI and additive manufacturing
- A lifestyle city that attracts knowledge workers and industry investment
- World-class companies in the areas of space and aerospace, and advanced manufacturing
- Collaborative government support from all three levels of government.
RDA Gold Coast Chair Nick Scott said current Gold Coast Industry 4.0 businesses are committed to adopting advanced technologies, and that innovations in one sector can be leveraged across other sectors.
And he noted that some surprising positives have emerged from COVID-19 pandemic: “COVID-19 has actually fast-tacked the adoption of digital technologies and cross-sector partnerships out of necessity, plus the importance of developing less vulnerable, Australia-based supply chains has also been recognised.”
Mr Scott went on to outline how RDA Gold Coast and its government partners will be using the Industry 4.0 project as a springboard to drive the transformation of regional businesses: “We’ll be identifying digital supply chain opportunities, helping to attract complementary supply chain businesses, encouraging collaboration and partnerships between industry and the education and training sectors, and reviewing current and future workforce skill requirements.”
To support these goals, RDA Gold Coast has developed a new Industry 4.0 website for the region, which includes information on grants, opportunities and resources, and a searchable directory of Gold Coast Industry 4.0 users and suppliers, including local tech champions such as Gilmore Space, MEXX Engineering, PWR Advanced Cooling Technologies, Austech VR, Coletek, Materialise, Datarwe and VirtuReal.
The directory can be searched by 14 different technology types, and Gold Coast businesses can upload their own details for inclusion in the directory.
“Businesses can also sign up for Gold Coast Industry 4.0 updates, as the project and associated technologies gather momentum. Our overall goal is to support the economy in the recovery from COVID-19 and see the Gold Coast become a world-class innovation capital,” Ms Rodighiero said.
For more information, go to industry4.0.rdagoldcoast.org.au
