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RoboticsAustralia Group welcomes the news that on behalf of Australian growers, HortInnovation and Artesian Ventures are investing in the development of emergingtechnologies such as robotics. The announcement of the creation of a $60m fund is welcome news to an industry starved ofcapital. Total VC investment in robotics in Australia has averaged $20m perannum in the last few years, well short of international standards.
“The #1issue preventing robotics companies from rapidly scaling and reaching globalmarkets is access to capital” says Robotics Australia Group Chair, Dr Sue Keay.“We have a vibrant agritech community in Australia and robotics forms animportant part. The creation of this fund could help support the development ofsovereign capability in this important area and we encourage all roboticsinnovators to investigate whether this opportunity is suitable for them.”
RoboticsAustralia Group supports the development, commercialisation, scaling andadoption of robotics in Australia in alignment with the newly released NationalRobotics Strategy.
Accordingto Robotics Australia Group CEO, Nicci Rossouw, “our mission is to see the scaling of robotics companies inAustralia, helping them expand their network and footprint while growing exportcapability. We look forward to working with Hort Innonvation to connect robotics companies withinnovative local companies who may be potential customers or partners.”
With the goal to build a sustainable roboticsindustry in Australia, Robotics Australia Group looks forward to seeing:
· More capital investment into robotics;
· More people working in robotics;
· More companies exporting and scaling;
· More companies adopting robotics and automation;
· More recognition of the robotics industry in the community.
The Australianrobotics industry is worth more than $18bn and comprises more than 1,000companies with robotics capability, employing more than 50,000 people. Whilethe robotics industry in Australia is still young, its focus on developingfield robotic solutions for the agriculture, mining, construction, healthcareand defence sectors, expanding the range of robotic solutions available toovercome current challenges. Robotics Australia Group has grown tenfold overthe last two years.
