The Queensland Government welcomed the Federal Government decision to back Queensland’s bid to host the Defence Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Trusted Autonomous Systems (TAS). A $50 million centre to develop drone and robotics technology for the Defence Force will be headquartered in Queensland. It will be a national facility that develops technology like drones and robotics for the Army, Navy and Air Force.
EPE Managing Director, Warwick Penrose joined Innovation Minister Kate Jones and State Development Minister Cameron Dick speaking at the Queensland Announcement at QUT welcoming the Federal Government decision to back Queensland’s bid to host the Centre. QUT’s Professor Arun Sharma and the State’s Chief Entrepreneur, Steve Baxter also addressed the media at the announcement.
Innovation Minister Kate Jones said the location of this Centre in Queensland was a vote of confidence in the state’s world-leading innovation and technology capability. “This centre will draw together industry, researchers and local businesses to work with Defence to develop new technologies for drones and other unmanned vehicles,” she said. “This will develop critical mass in key technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous vehicles and will position Queensland as a global leader in these areas.”
State Development Minister Cameron Dick said the Palaszczuk Government recognised that defence was a critical industry for the state, employing approximately 6,500 workers.
He said an important feature of the proposal would be to develop sites for testing, trials and evaluation of drones. “We will invest in test facilities, including large drone zones in regional Queensland — both aerial and marine —as part of the CRC.’’
Both Ministers recognised the capability that global companies like Boeing, and small companies like EPE and Nova Systems, contribute to Queensland’s leading technology in this area.
EPE Managing Director, Warwick Penrose said his ‘company is a family run business that creates autonomous systems to enable our soldiers to get in, do the job safely and get home again’.
Queensland will contribute a Brisbane-based headquarters for the CRC, world-class testing ranges, support research and technology projects, support industry to develop standards for autonomous systems and the development of platform technologies for unmanned aerial systems.
Information from : Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, The Honourable Cameron Dick / Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development and Minister for the Commonwealth Games, The Honourable Kate Jones