Tonsley Innovation District expands with new partnership
29 March 2022
A collaboration between Flinders University and global tech leader Cisco will see South Australia’s Tonsley Innovation District expand to feature a hub designed to help small and medium enterprises solve real-world business challenges.
Innovation Central Adelaide (ICA) will provide an opportunity for South Australian companies to navigate digital transformation and advanced manufacturing through an open innovation ecosystem.
Offering organisations access to world-class facilities, the ICA will be designed to nurture innovation through the use of advanced digital design and visualisation technologies including robotics, rapid prototyping, simulation, and high-tech visualisation technologies that would otherwise be beyond their reach.
Flinders’ Pro Vice-Chancellor of Research Innovation Professor John Spoehr said Innovation Central Adelaide will offer a high-tech treasure chest and turbo charge students’ learning.
“Companies will be able to use Innovation Central Adelaide to experiment with a range of robotics and automation technologies,” Professor Spoehr said. “Initial trials supported by the new facility will focus on collaboration systems, industrial networking, automation, industrial security, wireless systems and industrial sensor solutions.
“At the same time, it will equip students to be industry-ready with the digital skills required in the knowledge economy that help to solve real-world industry problems.”
Innovation Central Adelaide will support product and service development by facilitating the uptake of digital technologies in South Australian companies.
Vice president of Cisco Australia and New Zealand, Ben Dawson said the partnership with Flinders University is an example of Cisco’s commitment to innovation and research nationwide.
“This world class co-innovation commitment furthers our collaborative approach to innovative teaching and learning and opens the door for world leading research,” Mr Dawson says.
“By teaming with Flinders University and investing in Innovation Central Adelaide, we’re supporting the development of job-ready skills that are required today.”
The Tonsley Innovation District brings together research, businesses, government and the wider community to connect, collaborate and innovate. Innovation Central Adelaide has been established at Flinders University’s new Digital Transformation Laboratory at the innovation district.
