CORE Innovation Hub has been appointed to operate and activate the WA state government’s Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct (AARP).
The WA-founded CORE will be responsible for attracting, securing and retaining new partners and users to the Neerabup precinct in WA for an initial three-year term.
Innovation and ICT minister Stephen Dawson said, “CORE Innovation Hub brings experience in managing innovative facilities, building collaborative ecosystems and driving transformation across the mining and resources, energy, oil and gas, space and defence sectors.”
On behalf of the state government, CORE will lead a collaborative model with industry partners and be responsible for the curation and showcasing of projects, staging of industry events, and promoting skills and ideas exchanges between like-minded innovators, customers, TAFEs and universities.
Launched in October 2021, the AARP is delivered by DevelopmentWA’s Industrial Lands Authority as an industry-leading research, development and testing ground for automation, remote operations and robotics.
Lands minister John Carey said the government is driving reform and supporting innovative businesses who will help secure the economy, while creating skilled local jobs for the future.
“Development of the AARP is set to create at least 70 construction jobs, with up to 5,000 ongoing jobs in the fields of robotics, automation and remote operations expected to be generated after completion.”
The precinct is one of the biggest test facilities of its kind in the world, and its users will be able to access planned facilities including Common User test beds, laboratories and design co-labs, together with a Common User Facility (CUF) operations building.
Road and infrastructure works are now underway on the precinct’s initial 51-hectare site, with the CUF building scheduled to open next year. Industry interest has been strong across many sectors including mining and resources, research and education, technology innovation, remote operations, and drone and robotics suppliers, with several already having used the site for testing and research.