South Australia has a 'once-in-a-generation' opportunity to become Australia's leading testbed and user of artificial intelligence (AI) and other critical technologies, according to a new report launched this month.
SA's leading industries - from health to resources, advanced manufacturing, space and defence - could take the lead on adopting critical technologies responsibly and at scale to create value and competitive advantage, says Dr Kathryn Anderson, from tech group Innovation Central Adelaide, based at Flinders University's Tonsley campus.
"AI and critical technologies are moving rapidly from experimentation into real-world adoption. The organisations that build capability, test solutions and take practical steps now will be best positioned to create value and competitive advantage," says Dr Anderson.
The report highlights the significant economic opportunity presented by AI, which is forecast to contribute $115 billion annually to the Australian economy by 2030 - mainly through productivity gains ($80bn), improved output quality ($25bn), and new business and jobs creation.
Flinders University Professor Trish Williams, National Industry Innovation Network (NIIN) Research Chair in Digital Health, says: "South Australia's competitive advantage will not come from outspending larger jurisdictions on research, but from becoming the place where technologies are applied, proven and scaled - driving investment, skilled jobs and long-term economic resilience."
The report identifies three priorities for action:
POSITION South Australia as the national testbed for adoption by creating environments where emerging technologies can be trialled, validated and scaled, reducing risk and accelerating industry uptake.
SUPPORT industry to adopt technologies at scale by providing access to testbeds, expertise and capability-building programs that enable integration of AI, cybersecurity, robotics and advanced digital systems.
BUILD the future technology workforce by developing engineers, technicians, researchers and digital professionals capable of deploying and operating next-generation technologies across priority sectors.
At the recent launch, a practical example of AI's potential was shared by Dr Nathalie Taquet, Senior Officer, Strategy and Digital at the Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN).
In a presentation titled 'AI Driving Transformation in Healthcare Delivery', Dr Taquet highlighted how AI can support remote patient monitoring, assist clinicians in interpreting medical images, improve hospital operations and reduce administrative burden. It also emphasised that successful AI adoption depends on strong governance, risk assessment, workforce capability and ethical oversight.
"AI is no longer a future possibility for healthcare but a present reality. Our focus must now shift from adoption to impact, ensuring AI solutions are implemented safely, governed responsibly, and scaled in ways that deliver meaningful value for patients, clinicians and organisations," she says.
The landmark report titled 'The Transformation Link: Driving Adoption of Critical Technologies in South Australia to Create Economic Value,' and the supporting 'AI Pathway for Business' initiative is a collaboration between Flinders University experts and Cisco through the National Industry Innovation Network.
The report and AI pathway initiative invite business, government, health, research and other industries to create value and competitive advantage by embracing change - including digital technologies, AI, cybersecurity, quantum tech, advanced networks and industrial automation.
The full report, prepared by Innovation Central Adelaide and Cisco, was launched at Flinders University's City Campus on 8 July 2026.
Find the report: https://www.icentralau.com.au/adelaide/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/SA-Critical-Tech_FINAL-APPROVED_20pp.pdf
