UniSA partners with Siemens

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today congratulated software giant, Siemens and the University of South Australia (UniSA) on a partnership that will see the transfer of world-leading industrial software to train students for work in cutting edge advanced manufacturing, including naval shipbuilding.

The $450 million grant will see Siemens share its industrial Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software systems with the University, ensuring students have access to advanced software, processes and best practices that are used to develop some of the most sophisticated global products and systems in industries including automotive, aerospace, shipbuilding and high-tech electronics.

The Minister for Defence Industry, who attended the announcement today in Adelaide, said this $450 million grant will provide young South Australians with training in some of the most advanced shipbuilding design and production software in the world.

“Ensuring young Australians are trained and ready to take up roles in the shipyards that will build the Future Frigates, the Future Submarines and the Offshore Patrol Vessels is a vital task,” Minister Pyne said.

“This new venture between Siemens and UniSA will help in creating the workforce base we will need here in South Australia to make the most of the Turnbull Government’s record $90 billion investment in shipbuilding.”

This grant is part of Siemens’ commitment of over $1 billion in advanced PLM software grants to universities nationally and will enable students and the University to develop the skills needed to successfully participate in the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0).

“This announcement is a direct outcome of the Prime Minister’s Industry 4.0 Taskforce and the third series of high-tech Siemens PLM grants by Siemens, who have already committed $135 million to Swinburne University of Technology and $447 million to the University of Western Australia,” Minister Pyne said.

Premier of South Australia, the Hon Steven Marshall MP welcomed the partnership between Siemens and the University of South Australia, and said that the venture is a fantastic way of engaging young students in advanced technologies and up skilling them for jobs of the future .

“This investment in shipbuilding technology will act as a catalyst for South Australian skills development in advanced manufacturing, as well as having broader applications, in particular for our growing space sector,” Premier Marshall said.

“The defence and space industries will create future jobs for young South Australians, and it’s exciting that students will now have access to state-of-the-art software and when they finish study there will be jobs for them here in their home state.

“Growing a highly skilled workforce to take advantage of the Turnbull Coalition Government’s investment in naval shipbuilding is a key priority for South Australia and we are committed to taking a proactive role in developing a local workforce to meet the future demands of the defence industry.”