Australia’s National Robotics Strategy Advisory Committee appointed

Robotics Australia Group, the peak body for robotics in Australia, congratulates the Hon Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science on appointing an esteemed Advisory Committee to guide Australia’s National Robotics Strategy.

Robotics Australia Group was instrumental in highlighting the need for the National Strategy to the Minister earlier this year and welcomes progress on its development.

The Minister explained that the committee will work to develop a National Robotics Strategy that ensures Australia harnesses the opportunities from robotics and automation.

Robotics Australia Group Chair Dr Sue Keay explained that her ambition for the strategy was informed by Robotics Australia Group members, including emerging robotics producers and those companies adopting robotics technology, as well as the broader robotics ecosystem.

“My ambition for this strategy is to see it support a sustainable robotics industry in Australia that leverages the talent and technologies, in both corporates and research entities, that we are already developing in robotics,” Dr Keay said.

“A strategy that recognises Australia’s strength in field robotics as a new industry in its own right, but that also charts a path for us to strengthen other areas of robotics supply to support existing manufacturing and encourage the adoption of homegrown technology.

“A strategy that guides companies in how they can automate, while at the same time brings their workforces along on the journey and uplifts local skills. A strategy for our existing equipment manufacturers to adapt their products into robots by adding intelligence to their machines and bridging the existing gap between the creators of hardware and the creators of software. This work will support our decarbonisation targets across all industries as many of these technologies are complementary, for example it is easier to automate an electric vehicle and at the same time it is easier to optimise energy use in an autonomous system.

“I hope the strategy will bring the rest of the nation along on the journey and provide measurable benefits to the economy through new industry growth, while also helping our existing industries to evolve. This is an exciting opportunity to articulate Australia’s ambition in this space and Robotics Australia Group looks forward to the outcomes of the first meeting of the Committee today, 13 December 2022.”

For more information:

Robotics Australia Group – nicole.ireland@roboausnet.com.au