‘400 jobs, $34m’ from new centre

A high-tech manufacturing centre will bring hundreds of jobs and wages worth $34 million a year to Geelong, Deakin University has announced.
ManuFutures would create 100 “direct” jobs and another 300 in construction at Waurn Ponds, Deakin said.
The $13 million facility would “lead innovation to support the future of advanced manufacturing in regional Australia”.
Deakin described ManuFutures as a “hub for start-up and established businesses” that would add $220 million to Victoria’s economy annually.
Businesses “striving to harness their competitive advantage” would use the centre to combine their capabilities with the university’s “creative imagination, industry-focused research strategies and smart business models”.
ManuFutures could accommodate up to 15 companies at a time, said Deakin vice-chancellor Jane den Hollander.
She welcomed a State Government commitment this week of $3 million to develop the centre at Deakin’s Waurn Ponds Campus.
ManuFutures would allow businesses to collaborate on product development with leading research centres, Professor den Hollander said.
“Typically, great Australian inventions are refined and monetised overseas but, in order to compete through a strong economy, Australia must link high technology innovation to new ideas and do so quickly and competitively.”
Industry and Regional Development Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said ManuFutures would “foster and attract a highly skilled, knowledge-centric workforce” in Geelong.
“Geelong has a strong history in manufacturing and it’s critical that we harness this expertise and develop innovative, high value manufacturing capabilities to secure the high-tech jobs of tomorrow,” she said.
The director of a business working on cyber security project with Deakin welcome said ManuFutures would be an “opportunity for greater partnership” between the university and industry.
The project Dimension Data Systems was working on with Deakin would enhance security in sectors such as public transport, water, health care and financial services, said the company’s Duncan Brown.
“This is all about keeping Victoria the most liveable place in the world and, above all, creating jobs of the future for Victorians.”
“There’s a local and global skills shortage in the cybersecurity industry and our economy depends on the security that these new jobs will deliver to our companies and government agencies.”