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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-04-29 Daily Xml
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DEFENCE AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES

Mr BIGNELL (Mawson) (15:21): My question is to the Minister for Science and Information Economy: how is the government encouraging innovation and creativity in South Australia's defence and advanced manufacturing industries?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Youth, Minister for Gambling) (15:21): I thank the member for Mawson for his question and, of course, he is fully aware (because of his connections with the wine industry) that science, technology and innovation play a fundamental role in our rapidly evolving and expanding economy. I intend to elaborate beyond the wine industry and I know he is interested in that, as well.

The government funds several major science and research programs that encourage innovation and creativity in key industries such as defence and advanced manufacturing. The Premier's Science and Research Fund is one such program, and our total commitment of nearly $15 million to the PSRF has provided substantial and ongoing benefits to our state by boosting our scientific knowledge and capabilities. Five projects specifically focusing on defence and advanced manufacturing were funded through the fund last year. This funding will help South Australian-based researchers in such areas as fibre lasers and networking, surface engineering, medical devices and communication systems for the defence industry.

Previous Premier's Science and Research Fund projects also contribute to our key industries, such as the UniSA's facility which investigates advanced manufacturing methods for conducting polymers, along with the University of Adelaide's world-class wind tunnel, which will provide a competitive edge to local industry and researchers in the defence, aerospace, wind turbine and wind engineering sectors.

These projects are enormously beneficial to our state because they help develop SA-owned intellectual property, they provide potential for local investment in new facilities for the manufacture and export of high value-added products and they help to underpin sustained growth in our key strategic industries. Members would also be aware of the government's $22 million commitment to the NCRIS program which supports nine South Australian-based projects and provides world-class science infrastructure to our researchers. There are two projects—the microfluidics and nanofabrication facility and the SA regional facility for microscopy and microanalysis—which have specific applications for the defence and advanced manufacturing industries.

The government's significant contribution to the Cooperative Research Centre Program is also providing ongoing benefits to South Australia. Both the auto CRC and the rail CRC have a South Australian involvement, a direct link with our advanced manufacturing industries. These two CRCs will receive $700,000 over seven years from the state government. Both exist to deliver substantial benefits to the automotive and rail industries. The government is also co-funding the Australian Minerals Science Research Institute.

Mr Kenyon: It is a great initiative.

The Hon. P. CAICA: It is. Our contribution of $2.5 million will be invested in the Mawson Lakes facilities and equipment. The AMSRI has the potential to boost research capabilities and to address environmental issues such as water and energy resources.

The government has also contributed $8 million to the establishment of the integrated research centre at the Mawson Institute of Advanced Manufacturing, which will bring together the allied research institutions. Of these three allied research institutions, which cover the areas of science, engineering and advanced computing, the internationally renowned Ian Wark Research Institute is the leading element, and it was the prime justification for securing this level of funding. The Wark Institute is a flagship for scientific research and development in South Australia, especially in the areas of advanced manufacturing materials, surface science, minerals processing and nanotechnology.

I could go on and on about science and research and the state's substantial commitment to these and other scientific programs, but I will finish by saying that it is these programs that drive the creation of tremendous career opportunities for all South Australians across our very vibrant and expanding sectors.

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