Australia’s First Robotics Strategy Unveiled

Image credit: Louis Reed via Unsplash

The Federal Government has released its first National Robotics strategy, to guide and fast-track Australia’s development of robotics and automation industries.

“The National Robotics Strategy… sets a vision to develop and adopt our own robotics solutions to secure Australia’s future and seize the opportunity in front of us,” said the Hon Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science.

“It builds on our strengths and expertise in robotics, outlining how robotics and automation can work for us, and how we can develop the right skills to build a Future Made in Australia.”

Underpinning the strategy are four key goals in the following areas:

• National capability: Building a strong, collaborative robotics and automation ecosystem in Australia that is recognised for its strengths, has a thriving domestic market and exports globally.
• Increasing adoption: Supporting Australian industries to integrate robotics and automation technologies into their operations in ways that benefit Australian workers and communities.
• Trust, inclusion and responsible development and use: Ensuring robotics and automation technologies designed and adopted in Australia are safe to use alongside Australian workers, and are secure and inclusive by design
• Skills and diversity: Australians from all backgrounds contributing to and benefit from the development and adoption of robotics and automation.

Bionics Gamechangers Australia CEO, Dr Robyn Stokes applauded the Strategy as an important milestone towards building a more central role for robotics and automation in Australia’s economy, particularly when it came to the potential of bionics-enabled healthcare.

“Marrying robotics with medical science, biology, engineering, artificial intelligence (AI) and microelectronics is critical for reimagining our response to injury, trauma, disability and the treatment of chronic disease and complex health conditions,” said Dr Stokes.

“From a medical bionics perspective, the robotics and automation industries have a huge role to play in the development of tissue-engineered implants, bio-robotic organs, AI-enabled organ software and organoids, which preface a future revolution in ‘whole organ engineering’ and regenerative medicine – a new frontier in bionic innovation set to change the lives of millions globally.”

The full Strategy document is available for review via the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.