Defence contractors and university graduates will begin to forge even closer ties at Williamtown within weeks to deliver new technologies for the sector.
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The University of Newcastle began work on the Defence Innovation Hub in April and is now in the final stages of fit out.
Furniture, decal signage and internet services are being installed ready for people to begin meeting and thrashing out ideas.
The facility, including conference style rooms, smaller meeting rooms and even a soundproof booth, came about with input from a defence innovation advisory panel including representatives from Defence, government and business.
“They’ve been giving us a lot of advice about what they want,” the Pro Vice-Chancellor, industry engagement and innovation, Dr Sarah Pearson said.
“There’s a lot of excitement around what happening between the partners of the advisory panel and an eagerness to build a pipeline of talent for the future.”
The state government’s Boosting Business Innovation Program has provided $1.5 million to UoN to establish Williamtown as one of four innovation hubs across the Hunter.
Dr Pearson said the timing couldn’t be better.
“The bigger picture is that we would build a world class defence industry innovation sector here in the Hunter,” she said.
“The timing is right, commonwealth and state governments spending on defence, all these different partners see a lot of potential here.
“The university is at a great stage too increasing its investment in innovation.”
The program builds on the university’s links with the defence industry. PhD students are often placed with these aerospace companies after their final assessment before their final results have even had time to come in.
There will be 18 desks at the hub. At any one time in the building Dr Pearson sees there being one third PhD students, one third researchers and the final third a mix of industry defence, science and technology types.
Among those that have taken a keen interest in the hub’s development, next to the Mecure airport hotel, include Hunter RDA, Hunter Net, the Australian Industry Group and the Hunter Industry Council.
“Collectively we need to build this sector,” Dr Pearson said.
Work on the hub is expected to finish late September before an official opening on November 1.
