CORE Innovation Hub will take on the role of an operator at the Western Australia government’s Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct (AARP) in Perth’s north. Launched in October 2021, the AARP is being rolled out by the State Government, through DevelopmentWA’s Industrial Lands Authority, as industry-leading research, development and testing ground for automation, remote operations and robotics.
The initial three-year contract will see CORE take responsibility for attracting, securing and retaining new partners and users at the Neerabup precinct. CORE will lead an industry-driven collaboration model with industry partners and be responsible for the curation and showcasing of projects on behalf of the State Government. This includes the staging of industry events, and promoting skills and ideas exchanges between like-minded innovators, customers, TAFEs and universities.
Users of the precinct, which will form one of the biggest test facilities of its kind in the world, will have access to 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 in 2023.
Interest from the industry has been strong across a broad range of 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.
The region’s Lands Minister stated that the Government is focused on driving reform and supporting innovative businesses that will help transform and future-proof the economy while also creating skilled local jobs for the future. He noted that the development of the AARP is expected 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 appointment of a highly qualified local operator is a catalyst for that growth, and the Minister looks forward to seeing this unique precinct fulfil its potential and promise, he said.
Meanwhile, the region’s Innovation and ICT Minister stated that the appointment of CORE Innovation Hub is an important step by the McGowan Government in ensuring Western Australia, through the AARP, becomes a leading developer and adopter of automation and robotics.
He added that 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.
The Wanneroo MLA noted that securing a Western Australian-founded Innovation Hub in CORE to operate the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct is a major boost for Neerabup. The innovative and exciting new precinct will provide several new local job opportunities in the developing automation and robotics industry for the community here in Wanneroo.
About CORE Innovation Hub
From start-up to scale-up, industry to academia, CORE Innovation Hub is working to grow Australia’s largest ecosystem dedicated to driving transformation across the mining, energy, resources, oil and gas, space and defence sectors. CORE Innovation Hub, Perth was Australia’s first co-working, collaboration and innovation hub focused on resources technology to facilitate growth for energy and resources-based start-ups and SMEs.
With a second office in Adelaide, SA and a new regional centre in Newman, WA, CORE Innovation Hub continues to support growth companies alongside Australia’s leading resources companies and universities and provides proximity to skills, solutions and opportunities along the energy and resources supply chain.
