State government announces $1 million for Central Victorian Advanced Manufacturing alliance

The Victorian government has announced $1 million in support for what it calls a “ground-breaking partnership” between the Bendigo Manufacturing Group, La Trobe University and the City of Greater Bendigo.

The Central Victorian Advanced Manufacturing alliance would increase investment in skills, connect companies to export markets, and create as many as 100 high-value jobs in the greater Bendigo region, according to a statement from Victorian industry support minister Martin Pakula.

The alliance had been working with the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering (IESE) in Kaiserslautern, Germany for the last three years to develop a model for application in the region, and this would guide projects in sectors including defence, aviation, waste, food and engineering.

The result would help businesses in the region digitally transform, grow productivity and attract investment, said Pakula.

“Manufacturing is a critical component of the central Victorian economy. This local partnership will help secure, grow and transform the local manufacturing sector, and in turn support jobs and economic growth,” added City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Jennifer Alden.

Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute is biggest applied research organisation in the world, with 26,000 staff and 72 institutes in Europe.

According to its Fraunhofer page, IESE has been a leader in software and systems engineering methods for 25 years, and its focus is on is on ‘topics such as “Autonomous Systems”, “Dependable AI”, and “Virtual Validation”, as well as on digital solutions for rural and urban areas.’

Picture: Darren Howe/Bendigo Advertiser

Subscribe to our free @AuManufacturing newsletter here.