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Aust Gov invests $44M to build four AI and digital capability centres

Eliza Sayon Mar 31, 2022

2 min read

The Australian Government is investing $44 million to establish four Artificial Intelligence and Digital Capability Centres, driving the commercialisation of Australia’s leading AI research by taking it to new domestic and global markets.

The Centres will give small and medium businesses access to AI expertise to adopt and enable them to use AI solutions that will help them grow and create more jobs.

The Centres form part of the $124.1 million AI Action Plan, which sets a vision for Australia to be a global leader in developing and adopting trusted, secure and responsible AI.

Minister for Science and Technology Melissa Price said that with the AI Action Plan, Australia was charging ahead in developing and adopting AI products and services.

“The Centres will act as a front door for SMEs to improve their AI skills in order to adopt AI products in their businesses,” Minister Price said.

“They will draw together industries, research institutions, innovation hubs and businesses to create an ecosystem that drives innovation, commercialisation and adoption of AI.”

According to Minister Price, the Australian Government will continue to bolster the growth of AI by increasing the sharing of knowledge, supporting shared projects, and promoting long-term job creation.

“By requiring the Centres to focus on a priority area we can tailor the support for businesses to drive our manufacturing capability.”

Under this project, each applicant will nominate a focus area in specific applications of AI that support the National Manufacturing Priorities under the Modern Manufacturing Initiative or the Digital Growth Priorities under the Digital Economy Strategy, which aims to position Australia as a leading digital economy and society by 2030.

Grants of up to $11 million are made available for each of the four new Centres. Applicants are required to submit joint applications with at least one industry partner and build on existing technology, manufacturing hub or university.

The applicants must contribute 25 per cent of the total project’s expenditure and may provide additional in-kind contributions.

The new AI and Digital Capability Centres will work alongside the National Artificial Intelligence Centre at CSIRO’s Data61 to strengthen Australia’s AI expertise and capabilities across multiple sectors.

Source: Minister for Science and Technology Media Release

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.