Lumen Winter 2018 - Flipbook - Page 23
A little over a year ago we joined with BAE
Systems, and the state’s other universities, in
forming the Joint Open Innovation Network
(JOIN). It was established to generate new
technologies enabling the Australian Defence
Force to maintain superior capability.
Through JOIN, BAE Systems committed
to contribute up to $10 million for the
creation of new defence-focused courses and
targeted research and development, as well
as scholarships and industry placements.
JOIN will support 60 graduate positions
and establish an Innovation Laboratory
at the University of Adelaide to advance
defence technologies.
The JOIN Innovation Laboratory will house
over-the-horizon radar equipment, including
digital receivers and operator consoles, and
host PhD students working together with
BAE Systems and University researchers.
The sapphire clock and JOIN are just two
of many University of Adelaide-industry
collaborations in defence – a deliberate move
to align our activities with state needs. Our
new, state government supported Australian
Institute for Machine Learning is already
attracting global partners to Adelaide.
As the nation’s defence state, South Australia
will benefit enormously from federal
investment in submarines, ships and defence
infrastructure. It’s essential that this also
generates new hi-tech companies and jobs
pursuing “dual-use” technologies in areas
such as advanced manufacturing, mining,
big data and artificial intelligence.
This is not only about building our defence
sector, it’s about creating high-value futurefacing jobs that will keep our brilliant
young people in South Australia.
The rapidly increasing defence momentum
underway promises a very bright future
for jobs in South Australia’s economy,
and especially if we can truly leverage
our opportunities.
Professor Mike Brooks is Provost & Deputy
Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the
University of Adelaide
“JOIN WILL SUPPORT 60
GRADUATE POSITIONS
AND ESTABLISH AN
INNOVATION LABORATORY
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
ADELAIDE TO ADVANCE
DEFENCE TECHNOLOGIES.”
Above: The Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN)
is a strategic asset used in the Defence of Australia. JORN
is a network of three over-the-horizon radars that can
detect aircraft and ships between 1000 and 3000km from
the northern coastline of mainland Australia.
© Commonwealth of Australia
Department of Defence
Alumni Magazine ~ Winter 2018
21
