A new National 5G Industrial Incubation Lab will be built in South Australia, through a partnership between Nokia and the South Australian government.
The National 5G Industrial Incubation Lab will receive federal government funding under the $20 million Job Maker Digital Business initiative.
The new Lab will drive job growth in 5G services and 5G-enabled industries, across three key areas by:
- 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. It will include 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 hasn’t been previously possible.
5G-enabled networks will be essential to automate the world’s physical industries and lead to gains in productivity.
The National 5G Industrial Incubation Lab will support South Australia’s economic growth by providing revolutionary industrial 5G applications to companies, SA premier Steven Marshall said.
“I am delighted that South Australia has been chosen as the location for the National 5G Industrial Incubation Lab with Nokia,” Marshall said.
“The Lab positions South Australia as communications innovation hub, for South Australia, the nation and the entire Oceania region.
“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 help stimulate economic growth through new jobs and opportunities in key sectors like hi-tech, energy and transport. According to Marshall, this will further establish the state as the best place to take advantage of the global trend.
The investment will create a virtuous cycle of economic growth, minister for Trade and Investment Stephen Patterson said.
“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,” 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.
“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,” Nokia managing director for Australia and New Zealand Anna Wills said.
“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 National 5G Industrial Incubation Lab is available at www.communications.gov.au/5Ginitiative.