Category: Latest News

The ARM Hub is excited to announce that Propel-AIR, Australia’s inaugural robotics and AI sprint, will offer access to NVIDIA AI and robotics technologies.

This will help accelerate the innovation, commercialisation, and adoption of advanced robotics and AI technologies among Australian startups and innovators.

‘Our collaboration with NVIDIA empowers Australian businesses to harness cutting-edge AI and robotics technologies,’ said Professor Cori Stewart, ARM Hub CEO and Founder.

‘Through Propel-AIR, we’re providing advanced resources and technologies from NVIDIA to help startups and enterprises innovate and compete globally.’

Accelerating innovation with NVIDIA’s advanced AI and robotics technologies

Propel-AIR is designed to fast-track Australian robotics startups, scaleups, and innovators by providing them with the resources, mentorship, and technology needed to accelerate their projects. Participants will benefit from:

• Access to advanced NVIDIA AI and robotics technologies:
  • NVIDIA Isaac – A comprehensive set of NVIDIA-accelerated libraries, application frameworks, and AI models for accelerating the development and deployment of AI-enabled robots. The platform includes Isaac Sim for simulation and synthetic data generation, Isaac Lab for robot learning, and Isaac ROS for enhanced performance on NVIDIA hardware.
  • NVIDIA AI Enterprise – An end-to-end, cloud-native suite of generative AI software optimised for NVIDIA accelerated computing, helping businesses scale AI initiatives efficiently.
• Industry expertise and mentorship: guidance from the ARM Hub’s network of industry experts, researchers, and technologists to refine solutions and business strategies.
• Global connections: opportunities to engage with international partners, potential clients, and investors to help advance Australian innovations on the global stage.

Extending far beyond the initial sprint

With NVIDIA the ARM Hub aims to reach small-to medium-sized businesses across the country, democratising access to advanced AI and robotics technologies, providing the training, support, and tools needed to enhance their operations, drive innovation, and maintain a competitive edge in the global market.

The opportunity is vast and transformative, helping position Australia at the forefront of the global robotics and AI revolution.

What this means for Australian industries

The collaboration is poised to significantly enhance Australia’s manufacturing and technological capabilities by integrating the NVIDIA AI and robotics platforms.

Australian companies can boost efficiency, optimise their workforce, and compete more effectively on the global stage.

Accelerating innovation by fostering an environment where ideas swiftly transform into commercial successes, a key focus will be on the development of a skilled workforce by providing essential training and resources, equipping the Australian workforce for the future of advanced manufacturing, robotics, and AI.

Success stories

Robotic perception and interaction enhanced with NVIDIA technologies

QUT is a founding partner of the ARM Hub, and its Centre for Robotics is at the forefront of developing innovative solutions that enable robots to understand and interact with the physical world more effectively.

Led by PhD researcher Jad Abou-Chakra in collaboration with Dr. Krishan Rana, Professor Niko Suenderhauf, and Dr. Feras Dayoub (University of Adelaide), QUT has developed a novel Gaussian-Particle representation that model’s geometry, physics, and visual observations of the real world.

Essentially a digital twin of the real world, this comprehensive representation has the potential to inform perception, planning, and control algorithms in real time, enhancing a robot’s ability to operate in dynamic environments.

The team leveraged the NVIDIA Warp framework to physically embody the Gaussian splats into a simulation environment. The computational demands of this advanced research are met using high-performance NVIDIA GPUs.

The team also utilises the NVIDIA CUDA framework to access GPU capabilities for simulation and training purposes, allowing for accelerated computing essential in processing complex algorithms and large datasets.

While the team currently focuses on imitation learning, they recognise the potential of NVIDIA Isaac Sim to further optimise these models using reinforcement learning.

Their work, presented at the 2024 Conference on Robot Learning in Germany, demonstrates the practical applications of integrating NVIDIA’s technologies into advanced robotics research. By building real-time, continuously synchronised digital twins of the physical world, they are paving the way for robots to interact more naturally and effectively with their environments.

Embracing NVIDIA’s Technology for Next-Generation Exploration

Raytracer, a cutting-edge simulation technology company based in Brisbane, Australia, is leveraging the NVIDIA AI and robotics stacks to enhance its performance and capabilities.

As a pioneer in building new human and machine teaming technologies to enable safe and effective work in challenging and remote environments, Raytracer is committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with new technologies.

‘Ongoing advancements in NVIDIA Omniverse and Isaac and tighter integrations with NVIDIA hardware have prompted us to revisit these tools to further advance our solutions for the benefit of our customers,’ said Peter Clowes, Raytracer CEO and Co-Founder.

Starting in 2025, the team plans to integrate Omniverse and Isaac into workflows to generate high-quality synthetic datasets for training AI models across space, security, and logistics applications.

They will also explore use cases for digital twins of lunar architecture and aim to train robotics systems and sensors within synthetic environments before deploying them on NVIDIA hardware.

Advancing the next frontier of artificial intelligence

The ARM Hub and Databricks continue to empower businesses with unified data analytics and AI solutions.

In July, Databricks announced an expanded collaboration with NVIDIA to optimise data and AI workloads.

This synergy enhances the efficiency, accuracy, and performance of AI development pipelines, enabling the ARM Hub to leverage these technologies to support Australian businesses in adopting AI safely and responsibly, focusing on real-world applications that are accessible and achievable without the need for large budgets or specialised teams.

Leveraging the ARM Hub’s Data and AI as a Service, delivered in partnership with Databricks and Data and Knowledge Enterprise, the ARM Hub is helping pioneer the next era of artificial intelligence – agentic AI.

This advanced AI paradigm utilises sophisticated reasoning, iterative planning, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to autonomously solve complex, multi-step challenges.

This advancement will lead to significant enhancements in efficiency and transform operational processes across a wide range of industries.

 

Queensland is doing a great job fostering health innovation, but it needs to increase speed to commercialisation and develop a culture where research is ‘business as usual’.

These were two key points raised by the panel of industry, government, and university representatives as part of The Great Innovation Debate at the joint ARM Hub and Queensland Health Innovation Frontier Forum on Monday.

Our panellists were invited to comment on gaps existing in the health innovation ecosystem that could be addressed by policy makers.

With the translation of research to market taking between 15 and 25 years, it is important to pick-up the pace of commercialisation – not only to realise patient outcomes sooner but to continue to attract investment.

It is also essential to encourage hospitals and clinicians to realise the value of research and partner with universities.

‘Team Queensland’ is working

 The Great Innovation Debate covered two topics:

• Who is best positioned to foster health innovation in Queensland? Is it industry, universities, or hospitals?

• Who holds the key to data sovereignty? Is it the universities, hospitals, industry, or individuals?

The panel was unanimous in their belief that collaboration was essential: “It is a team sport. We need the universities to bring funding, clinicians to articulate what is required, and industry to scale it”.

‘Team Queensland’ has led to international recognition of the local innovation ecosystem: “People want to come to Queensland because of how well industry, academia, and government – Team Queensland – operates. You just don’t see that in other places”.

‘Team Queensland’ is an approach across universities and the Queensland Government to support multidisciplinary collaboration and strong industry partnerships to deliver leading research outcomes and accelerate the development and commercialisation of ideas.

Protecting people’s data

Patient consent drives accessibility, with data falling into two main categories: explicit consent (data is free for generalised use), and consent with a waiver (restricted use).

In clinical trials, the chief investigator owns the data and the boundaries governing the use of the data hinges on patient consent. As such, protecting patient data is a top priority.

When questioned about the steps industry should take in accessing patient information, the panellists all pointed to synthetic datasets: “Synthetic datasets can be your first step rather than going to hospitals”.

Synthetic data, or artificial data, provides a realistic representation of the original data source; it looks like the original data source without containing any information on any real individuals.

There is intense scrutiny around the use and protection of patient data. While research shows that 80% of people are happy to share data if it is for the public good, the remaining 20% are strongly opposed to its generalised use: “Queensland has lots of high-quality data but there is great responsibly in having those assets”.

Industry showcase

 The Great Innovation Debate highlighted the value of industry. Our forum attendees heard from six block-buster Queensland biomedical on track to revolutionise the sector.

Microbio technology can test for sepsis 24 hours faster than the current gold standard. This ensures life-saving treatment can be delivered faster and significantly reduces healthcare costs.

Propel Health AI has developed an end-to-end healthcare data platform.

The new clinical waste solution by HygiFix can result in a 93% reduction in emissions.

Clinials is using artificial intelligence to improve the efficiency of clinical trials.

Technology developed by Coritical Dynamics monitors a patient’s brain while under general anaesthetic to ensure safer and more efficient surgeries.

Innovative Rehab Technologies says the scope for ROBERT the Robot has expanded beyond neuro-rehabilitation to a therapy robot with application in helping the elderly.

Our thanks to all who participated in the event and our attendees. See you next year.

As part of a new accelerator starting this month, three Australian businesses will use the power of data and AI to enhance their medical products to become internationally competitive.

Cortical Dynamics, Microbio, and Resonait Medical Technologies have been selected for the Biomedical AI Sprints Accelerator (BASA) run by leading innovation centres, the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub and MTPConnect.

These innovative companies will harness their data and AI to revolutionise their products, which range from perioperative management of anaesthetic agents to diagnosing sepsis using an advanced PCR-based platform and accelerating the path to recovery from depression.

ARM Hub CEO and Founder Professor Cori Stewart and MTPConnect CEO Stuart Dignam jointly congratulated the companies on their successful selection.

Professor Stewart said BASA will help unlock valuable intelligence within their businesses.

“AI and automation are estimated to increase Australia’s productivity by 50% to 150%,” Professor Stewart said.

“We are already seeing life-changing evidence of the value of AI in biomedicine with accelerated drug discovery, precision medicine, and enhanced diagnostics.”

MTPConnect CEO Stuart Dignam said this groundbreaking program is addressing an urgent need for specialised data and AI services within the Australian biomedical sector.

“We are delighted to be working with the team at the ARM Hub to make this AI accelerator a reality to support innovations in medical product discovery and to advance human health,” Mr Dignam said.

“Providing support to these promising innovative companies means we are building sovereign AI capabilities in our medical science sector and that is a smart approach if we want to be globally competitive.”

ARM Hub and MTPConnect established BASA to address a lack of expertise in AI and big data management in particular, addressing critical skills shortages within Australia’s life sciences sector.

At the conclusion of the accelerator, companies will have a tailored plan of how to scale their innovative AI applications and leverage data infrastructure to overcome AI adoption hurdles.

About our accelerator participants

Microbio

Microbio is a molecular pathogen diagnostic company based in Brisbane. It is commercialising InfectID-BSI, a revolutionary qPCR test to improve sepsis management by identifying 26 pathogens that cause >94% of sepsis cases directly from blood. Currently, it can take between 11 hours and multiple days to identify the pathogens that cause sepsis, meaning clinicians must rely on broad-spectrum or empiric antimicrobials.

Microbio has launched InfectID-BSI in Europe, the United Kingdom and India and is starting additional clinical trials in late 2024 aimed at facilitating regulatory clearance in the US (FDA) and Australia (TGA).

Microbio is developing AI enhanced data systems that allow processing, storage and analysis of human pathogen genomic information, integrated with patient clinical metadata.

Founder and Chief Scientific Officer Dr Flavia Huygens (pictured) said AI functionality will enable Microbio to interrogate the data, providing intelligence to allow the company to respond to the emergence of new infectious diseases.

“This program will enable Microbio to rapidly track and identify emerging infectious disease trends, which we can respond to by developing innovative diagnostic solutions to improve patient treatment and health outcomes,” she said.

Resonait Medical Technologies

Resonait Medical Technologies is a neurotechnology company on a mission to accelerate the path to recovery from depression.

There is a crisis of accessibility in mental healthcare, with wait times to see psychologists and psychiatrists at record levels. Demand for mental healthcare has continued to grow, vastly outpacing the growth in the mental health workforce capable of delivering this care.

Resonait is developing tools to alleviate this problem by tailoring treatment to individuals based on their personalised brain network expression. Resonait’s team of neuroscientists and biomedical engineers have developed customised artificial intelligence algorithms that monitor changes in an individual’s EEG recordings that provide early indications if a patient is responding to treatment, allowing psychiatrists to adapt treatment protocols in a manner optimised for each patients’ recovery.

Founder and CEO Dr Cameron Higgins said the company is working closely with the Queensland Institute of Medical Research and the Queensland Neurostimulation Centre to rigorously test their technology, and this program will help them scale that technology into a clinic-ready product.

“There are so many challenges taking an established research result and deploying it in a product that clinicians can easily access in their normal workflows. This program will help us overcome these challenges and make this complex technology accessible to clinicians at the click of a button”.

Cortical Dynamics Limited

Cortical Dynamics is a neurotechnology medical device company that has added AI to intellectual property originally developed at Swinburne University. Cortical’s core product is the Brain Anaesthesia Response (BARM™) System.

Utilising EEG interpretation, BARM™ is a non-invasive medical device with global approvals used in the operating theatre to help anaesthesiologists better administer analgesic and anaesthetic drugs to deliver improved patient outcomes perioperatively.

BARM™ addresses a global market exceeding 200 million operations per year where a general anaesthetic is administered and has particular application in cases involving total intravenous administration of drugs. The device operates in real-time and has been designed with feedback from global key opinion leaders and practitioners.

CEO Ashley Zimpel said they were applying AI to the device and related App Cordyan™ to further develop a diagnostic tool that predicts individual patient outcomes based on the anaesthetic and analgesic drugs they are given in surgery.

The BARM™ technology will better aid the total intravenous administration (TIVA) of drugs used during general anaesthetic-based surgery and help significantly reduce the carbon footprint effect of inhaled gas in surgery.

“Enhancing our core technology with machine and deep learning applications will undoubtably result in better patient outcomes, reduce possible negative post operative complications, and positively impact on hospital costs and environmental outcomes,” Mr Zimpel said.

We are celebrating the official launch of the new ARM Hub AI Adopt Centre today!

The multi-partner Centre was launched at South by Southwest (SXSW) Sydney as part of the Australian Government’s AI Month celebrations.

ARM Hub Founder and CEO Professor Cori Stewart said the Centre was a ‘front door’ to expertise, support and services that will foster AI-driven business growth.

“Many businesses feel uncertain about where to start with AI. The common barriers include a lack of data readiness, a skills gap, or simply not knowing which AI applications are relevant to their business. The Centre is offering access to practical solutions to help businesses move forward with AI,” Professor Stewart said.

Professor Stewart said the Centre would play an important role in helping Australia’s SMEs (which make up 96% of all industry) scale their innovation, preventing it from going offshore.

She said SMEs using the Centre will be tapping into expertise from internationals Microsoft and Databricks, as well as local AI SMEs Data and Knowledge Enterprise and Raytracer.

“Australian industry is ready to invest in AI and robotics to increase its productivity and competitiveness. We’ve designed this Centre to provide practical pathways to de-risk the adoption and use of AI and Generative AI, helping businesses to make the most of this fast-moving frontier of technology.

“Research shows AI and automation are expected to increase Australia’s productivity by up to 150%. We want industry to be transforming their operations for long-term success by having their data organised, structured and ready for AI.

“The ARM Hub AI Adopt Centre is here to make businesses better using the benefits of AI and Generative AI. Our collaboration of 28 partners includes AI and robotics experts across Australia, which ensures we are delivering the best skillsets into all corners of the country.

“Over the next three years, we expect to engage with up to 30,000 SMEs on their digital transformation journeys.”

The key Features of the ARM Hub AI Adopt Centre are its practical guidance for SMEs; a collaborative, industry-led network; and a focus on ethical and safe AI practices to ensure sustainable business growth.

In May this year, the Australian Government announced the establishment of four centres under its AI Adopt Program to facilitate the safe and responsible use of AI by SMEs.

The ARM Hub AI Adopt partners are here.

ARM Hub is pleased to announce an official collaboration with Australian software company Data Knowledge Enterprise (DKE) to deliver its Data and AI-as-a-Service initiative.

Data and AI-as-a-Service is scalable and secure data and AI infrastructure designed to help companies to maximise their data to make informed business decisions.

Introduction of Data and AI-as-a-Service

The ARM Hub has been working with its manufacturing clients and university partners on data and AI since 2022.

One of the key challenges faced by manufacturers is data management – a necessity for companies committed to digital transformation.

An initial service to clients through five voluntary digital advisors was replaced with the Data and AI-as-a-Service in 2023 as industry sought to harness the value of GenAI following the release of ChatGPT.

DKE, led by Dr Roozbeh Derakhshan*, was appointed following a public tender process to collaborate on the delivery of the service.

The importance of data management

Data and AI-as-a-Service is designed to help companies to grow their business using AI.

Every business collects data, whether from operations, sales, or customers. Unfortunately, many miss out on valuable intelligence because they do not have the ability to bring the date from its many sources into one platform.

This is particularly true for small and medium-sized companies (93% of all Australian business) because they cannot afford to build and maintain internal data management infrastructure.

A solution is the tailoring of AI tools for each business, such as chatbots and synthetic data generation.

Working with DKE

DKE has played a significant role in helping the ARM Hub to partner with Databricks, which is supporting its Data and AI-as-a-Service.

The Databricks Data Intelligence Platform combines capabilities in data engineering, data science, analytics, and machine learning. It is designed to streamline the process of turning big data into actional insights by providing tools for managing data workflows, collaborative project environments, and robust analytics, all of a scalable cloud infrastructure.

In mid-2024, the ARM Hub hosted an industry seminar to showcase the application of the Data and AI-as-a-service with Databricks and DKE.

A key aspect was the demonstration of ARMBot by ARM Hub AI Engineer, Callum Elder.

Developed with DKE, ARMBot is a Retrieval Augmented Generation-based Large Language Model (LLM) for ARM Hub.

Like ChatGPT, ARMBot is a query and response-based model; however, ARMBot stores selected LLMs locally, only drawing on ARM Hub data.

DKE is also helping the ARM Hub to deliver the ARM Hub AI Adopt Centre for the Australian Government.

*Dr Derakhshan is married to ARM Hub Founder and CEO Professor Cori Stewart. Professor Stewart was not involved in the selection process of the public tender.

The Australian Manufacturing Capability Network (AMCN) is now actively collaborating with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to help them commercialise innovative products and services.

Officially announced in May 2024, the AMCN serves as an Industry Partner Organisation to the Australian Government’s new Industry Growth Program (IGP), a key initiative under the National Reconstruction Fund aimed at building the future of Australian manufacturing.

The AMCN is a national collaborative effort between industry, government, and universities, and is led by the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub in Queensland.

Over the past three months, AMCN partners have been diligently developing specialised services to support startups and SMEs applying for the IGP, offering deep technical expertise in critical areas such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems.

Professor Cori Stewart, Founder and CEO of ARM Hub, expressed her enthusiasm for the AMCN’s role in this vital program.

“It is gratifying to now see the network in action, providing crucial technical support that enables SMEs and startups to become global innovation leaders,” Professor Stewart said.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Industry Growth Program and thank the Australian Government for this opportunity. The network is committed to strengthening sovereign manufacturing capability and growing the national economy.”

Australian Government Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, announced that four not-for-profit organisations, including AMCN, will work with the IGP to assist participating SMEs in bringing new products and services to market.

The IGP offers expert advice on commercialisation and early-stage business growth, particularly for businesses in the priority areas identified by the National Reconstruction Fund. The first five companies to receive IGP funding were announced this month.

As an Industry Partner Organisation, the AMCN complements the IGP by offering specialised advisory services drawn from its extensive sectoral expertise.

Professor Stewart highlighted the unique challenges faced by Australian industry, particularly the ‘missing middle’ of ambitious export-oriented SMEs and startups.

“Small businesses, which make up 93% of all Australian businesses, often struggle with low levels of free cash flow and limited human resources, which can hinder their ability to invest in and scale innovation,” she said.

The AMCN addresses these challenges by providing SMEs with access to a comprehensive network of technology experts and essential commercialisation services.

The network’s members include prominent institutions such as CSIRO, Flinders University, Swinburne University of Technology, the Queensland Government, University of Technology Sydney, and Western Sydney University. It is further supported by technology partners, specialist providers, and venture capital investors.

The AMCN is committed to overcoming the barriers SMEs face in commercialising their innovations, thereby ensuring that Australian manufacturing continues to thrive on the global stage.

More than 200 members of the manufacturing, research, and academic communities attended the first-ever ARM Hub Open Day recently.

Our visitors explored cutting-edge technologies that are set to revolutionise the manufacturing industry.

Founder and CEO of ARM Hub Professor Cori Stewart was pleased with the turnout, saying it was an opportunity to highlight the critical role that advanced manufacturing plays in driving innovation, exports and Australia’s industrial future.

One of the key themes of the Open Day was manufacturing clean energy technologies here in Australia and how we integrate clean technologies into established manufacturing processes.

Among the innovative clean-tech companies featured was Wisk, which is developing the world’s first self-flying, all-electric air taxi. This project, which aims to be operational by the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, represents a significant leap forward in sustainable transportation. The use of electric power in aviation is a critical step towards reducing carbon emissions in one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonise.

ARM Hub tenant Vaulta also demonstrated how it is enabling a faster transition to electrification with its ‘smarter, safer, and cleaner’ lithium battery pack for Australian homes. Vaulta does not weld its battery packs, allowing technicians to access the battery at the cell level. The no-weld design means modules can be easily assembled and disassembled, and cells can be reused and recycled, reducing waste and, crucially, giving batteries a second life.

Advanced manufacturing technologies, such as robotics, AI, and 3D printing, are also making production more efficient by significantly reducing the environmental footprint of manufacturing. These technologies enable manufacturers to digitise and account for carbon emissions, optimise energy use, minimise waste, and transition to renewable energy sources.

Showcasing sustainable manufacturing solutions

The Open Day also featured interactive sessions with robotic equipment from QUT and CSIRO, as well as augmented and virtual reality demonstrations. These exhibits underscored the potential for advanced technologies to enhance sustainability in manufacturing. For example, robotics can improve precision and efficiency, reducing energy consumption and material waste, while AI can optimise production schedules to align with the availability of renewable energy sources.

The Future of Manufacturing is Green

The ARM Hub’s Open Day dispelled outdated perceptions of manufacturing, instead highlighting how the future of manufacturing is increasingly tied to clean energy, new technologies and sustainability.

The ARM Hub’s ongoing development of a Generative AI chatbot for industry, in partnership with major technology companies, is just one example of how digital innovation can support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

As the world moves towards a more sustainable future, the integration of clean energy technologies into manufacturing processes will be essential.

Professor Stewart said the ARM Hub was playing a pivotal role in driving the clean energy revolution within the manufacturing sector: “By embracing advanced technologies and fostering collaboration between industry, academia, and government, the ARM Hub is helping to build a more sustainable, resilient, and prosperous future for Australia and the world.”

You’re invited to the ARM Hub Open Day!

See advanced manufacturing in action at the ARM Hub Learning Factory in Northgate, Brisbane.

When: 6 August, 2024

Where: 53 Holland Street, Northgate 4013

Time: 10am – 3pm

Cost: free

Register here.

On display

The ARM Hub is unique in Australia. It is the only industry-led centre with an in-house technical team working on challenges brought to us by industry.

Inside the ARM Hub Learning Factory is a host of companies using automation, robotics, cobotics, extended reality, and 3D printing to scale-up their manufacturing.

Activities

The Open Day is an opportunity to see technology being used, as well as learn what is coming in the future.

Guided tours of the factory

Our staff will be providing in-depth, informative tours of the factory to provide you with an understanding of the technologies and their uses.

These tours will be held every 30 minutes but spaces are limited. Those registered for the event will be offered first choice of their preferred time.

Workshops

We will be hosting interactive, hands-on workshops about using robotics, 3D printing and extended reality in your business.

Places are limited and registration for the event is essential.

Walk-arounds

You are welcome to visit the Learning Factory from 10am-3pm.

As it is a working factory, it is important to be registered for the event and wear closed-in shoes.

Food

We will have food and drinks available for purchase on the day.

Everyone is welcome

The Open Day is an opportunity for our local community to see the fantastic achievements of the tenants, Members, and clients of the ARM Hub.

This would benefit:

• manufacturing companies
• companies with an interest in advanced manufacturing
• technology companies
• robotics and cobotics companies
• researchers
• university students
• school students.

Registration and large groups

For safety, it is essential that visitors register to visit the site.

We welcome large groups. Please contact Angela Reed at angela.reed@armhub.com.au or telephone 0430 197 158.

Exhibiting and sponsorship

We are offering industry the opportunity to showcase their technology or to sponsor the event.

Please contact Angela Reed at angela.reed@armhub.com.au or telephone 0430 197 158 for further details.

The ARM Hub and MTPConnect unveiled a joint accelerator to help biomedical companies harness the power of data and artificial intelligence (AI) in San Diego today as part of Australia’s trade mission at the global BIO convention.

Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub and MTPConnect launched the Biomedical AI Sprints Accelerator (BASA) with Hon. Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science at Australia’s Pavilion at BIO2024, the world’s largest and most comprehensive biotechnology event.

BASA will offer $25K to $50K in matched funding and will upskill a selected number of high growth companies in the use of AI and data analytics, provide access to affordable data management infrastructure, and create a tech-ready workforce.

MTPConnect’s skills gap analysis work has identified AI expertise gaps which are potentially holding back growth of Australia’s life sciences sector.

This sector has gaps/shortages in understanding of and expertise in big data capture, management and analysis, and expertise in the design and use of artificial intelligence.

The accelerator initiative by the ARM Hub and MTPConnect is designed to directly address these gaps and drive understanding and business adoption of this transformative technology, leveraging advanced AI tools and expertise.

ARM Hub CEO and Founder Professor Cori Stewart said the smart use of data and AI was the next frontier in scaling innovation and modernising manufacturing.

“The Biomedical AI Sprints Accelerator represents a strategic investment in Australia’s biomedical industries,” Professor Stewart said.

“It will foster a high-skill workforce that will enable our small and medium businesses to scale and compete at a global level. The ARM Hub is actively helping companies large and small create modern data platforms to collate and maximise business intelligence.

“This initiative promises substantial economic returns and solidifies Australia’s leadership in medical manufacturing and innovation.”

Biomedical companies in Australia and those looking to expand internationally will benefit from customised AI solutions and gain the skills needed to manage and maintain advanced data and AI platforms.

MTPConnect CEO Stuart Dignam said this groundbreaking program will address an urgent need for specialised data and AI services within the Australian biomedical sector.

“There is no time to wait to start building AI capabilities for our medical science SMEs developing innovations if we are to compete globally.,” Mr Dignam said.

“It is fitting that we’ve signed this agreement at the global BIO convention, where all the talk is of harnessing AI and how it can accelerate innovation in biotech and medtech.

“We are delighted to be working with the team at the ARM Hub to make this AI accelerator a reality. We share mutual industry interests to support innovations in medical product discovery and to advance human health,” Mr Dignam said.

Fast facts

• This is a joint initiative between the ARM Hub and MTPConnect, Australia’s leading life sciences innovation accelerator. Both are independent, not-for-profit organisations.
• The accelerator will provide companies with bespoke roadmaps guiding their adoption of data and AI management platforms, which can be expensive for small and medium businesses.
• The accelerator will train participants and their staff in using next-generation technology, which will assist in staff retention and recruitment.
• AI enables companies to access the powerful information contained within their data. Every business collects data, whether from operations, sales or customers. Unfortunately, many companies miss out on valuable intelligence because they do not have the ability to bring the data from its many sources into one platform. This is particularly true for small and medium-sized companies (93% of all Australian business) because they cannot afford to build and maintain internal data management infrastructure.
• The accelerator will provide solutions to companies who want to collate their data to generate benefits.

 

For more information or to apply, please contact Angela Reed at angela.reed@armhub.com.au or telephone +61 (0)430 197 158.

 

The ARM Hub is collaborating with more than 30 organisations to create the ARM Hub AI Adopt Centre.

The ARM Hub AI Adopt Centre is one of four new centres announced by Australian Government Minister for Industry and Science, the Hon Ed Husic today.

ARM Hub Founder and CEO Professor Cori Stewart said the centre will be a pathway for Australia’s SMEs to become global innovation leaders.

“ARM Hub and its partners are thrilled to continue their work in fostering a world-class AI ecosystem in Australia that embraces safe and responsible AI and is focused on commercialisation and business growth,” Professor Stewart said.

“Australia’s SME manufacturers know that AI can be a major source of sustained value-add and enhanced global competitiveness. Given SMEs represent 93% of Australian business, it is imperative that they can capitalise on the benefits of AI to scale-up and grow.

“The use of modern data platforms in Australian manufacturing is critical to effective scaling-up and business growth and the creation of a ‘smart’ and resilient workforce. The ARM Hub AI Adopt Centre will provide a joined-up service that demonstrates how data and AI can modernise business, build skills and boost productivity.”

Partners

The ARM Hub AI Adopt Centre partners are listed below.

Industry and industry networks

• Tech Council of Australia
• i2i global
• Smart Energy Council
• Industry Capability Network
• i3Net
• NORTH Link Victoria
• South East Melbourne Manufacturing Alliance
• CORE Innovation Hub
• Australian Robotics and Automation Association
• Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council
• Australian Manufacturing Growth Centre
• Australian Defence Sciences and Universities Network
• Food and Beverage Accelerator
• Advanced Materials Battery Council

Research organisations

• Swinburne University of Technology
• Australian Machine Learning Institute (Adelaide University)
• Queensland University of Technology
• Griffith University
• The University of Queensland
• Monash University
• University of Newcastle

Technology companies and innovation networks

• DKE (Data & Knowledge Enterprise)
• Microsoft
• Stone & Chalk
• Jewelrock
• 77 Partners

Government

• Queensland Government
• Western Australian Government