South Australia has been announced as the location for a new National 5G Industrial Incubation Lab following a partnership between Nokia and the State Government.
The Lab is to receive Federal Government funding as part of the $20 million Job Maker Digital Business initiative.
The National 5G Industrial Incubation Lab, will drive jobs growth in 5G services and 5G-enabled industries, across three key areas covering:
- Increasing rail passenger safety via camera and scene analytics using big data
- Airport situational awareness for securing public safety using video cameras
- Energy management in a power network via 5G connectivity
These 5G scenarios will be supported by Adelaide Airport, South Australian Power Network and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport and includes the expertise of the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML).
The use of 5G wireless technology is a future platform for connecting mobile robots, machines, sensors, computers and people, creating opportunities for automation on a scale that up until now, hasn't been possible.
As such, 5G-enabled networks will be essential for the automation of the world's physical industries, leading to productivity gains.
Premier Steven Marshall said the National 5G Industrial Incubation Lab will support South Australia's economic growth by providing revolutionary industrial 5G applications to innovative companies, in turn, creating jobs of the future.
"I am delighted that South Australia has been chosen as the location for the National 5G Industrial Incubation Lab with Nokia. The Lab positions South Australia as communications innovation hub, for South Australia, the nation and the entire Oceania region," Premier Marshall said.
"It is critical that local industries are involved in shaping the Lab, taking advantage of this globally significant collaboration to lead a technological transformation by building new products and services that will drive Gross State Product growth as well as contribute to Gross Domestic Product growth.
"The Lab will support the stimulation of economic growth by delivering new jobs and opportunities in South Australia across key growth sectors such as hi-tech, energy and transport, further establishing South Australia as the best place to take advantage of this global trend and to foster local and national growth."
Minister for Trade and Investment Stephen Patterson said the investment within South Australia of the National 5G Industrial Incubation Lab will create a virtuous cycle of economic growth.
"Alongside the MIT big data Living Lab and AIML, the Australian Cyber Collaboration Lab (A3C), the Australian Space Agency, the submarine and Future Frigate programs, South Australia is rapidly increasing its hi-tech capability which creates the perfect ecosystem to support a 5G Lab," Minister Patterson said.
"Establishing a National 5G Industrial Incubation Lab in Adelaide with Nokia, will further enhance South Australia's strong manufacturing, AI and automation capabilities, providing significant opportunities for our local industry and enabling them to be globally competitive."
The bid was supported by the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML), MIT bigdata Living Lab, Adelaide Airport Limited, Sage Automation, SA Power Networks, the South Australian Government and Bell Labs Consulting.
Anna Wills, Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand at Nokia said; "Nokia is delighted to establish our National 5G Industrial Incubation Lab in South Australia, an important step forward to harnessing the power of 5G for all Australian industries.
"5G has the potential to improve safety, productivity and efficiency across a range of industries and together with our partners in Bell Labs Consulting, we're excited to see what can be achieved first with use cases for the rail, airports and energy sectors and then further afield."
More information about the 5G initiative is available at www.communications.gov.au/5Ginitiative
