The new Central Victorian Advanced Manufacturing alliance will boost investment and skills in central Victoria and connect local businesses to global markets, supported by a $1 million Victorian Government funding allocation.
The Bendigo Manufacturing Group, La Trobe University and the City of Greater Bendigo have created the partnership. By harnessing the strengths of government, industry and research, the initiative will support innovative projects and deliver up to 100 high-value jobs in the greater Bendigo region.
The government's investment will ensure regional manufacturing remains future-focused and sustainable, using the systems and expertise of the world-leading Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering to guide projects, including in the defence, aviation, waste, food and engineering sectors.
Germany's Fraunhofer Institute is the world's largest applied research organisation, with 26,000 staff and 72 institutes across Europe.
The Central Victorian Advanced Manufacturing alliance has been working with the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering in Kaiserslautern for the past three years to develop the model for application in central Victoria.
The alliance will help businesses to digitally transform their operating models, increase global competitiveness and attract investment, and advance local workforce skills by capitalising on the region's diverse talent pool.
