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The federal government has committed to invest $20 million towards a new national artificial intelligence and machine learning centre.
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The University of Adelaide has welcomed the federal government’s announcement in its 2020-21 budget to invest $20 million in the development of the Centre for Augmented Reasoning.
The centre, which will be located on the university’s campus, will be used for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning research and development.
The Centre for Augmented Reasoning builds on the expertise of the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) at the University of Adelaide, jointly established with the South Australian government and based in Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen innovation precinct.
“The $20 million announced in this week’s federal budget is a very exciting development, representing seed investment in our new centre,” Professor Mike Brooks, interim vice-chancellor at the University of Adelaide, said.
“This will be a solid foundation for industry and government to build on, to ensure Australia captures the full benefits from the artificial intelligence revolution.
“The new centre will be a major boost to the University of Adelaide’s capabilities, and will create new jobs in research, and opportunities for students.
“It will cement South Australia’s position as the nation’s lead state for AI research and innovation, and stimulate a new generation of high-tech businesses and jobs here in the state.”
Professor Anton van den Hengel, director of the Centre for Augmented Reasoning, added that the university is already helping Australian businesses to adapt and to integrate AI in their products and businesses, including in film animation, medical diagnostics, manufacturing, food quality assessment, plant breeding, and mining.
“Our new Centre for Augmented Reasoning will help Australia push its way to the front of global innovation, building on our advantage of being one of the first economies to emerge from COVID-19 lockdown,” Professor van den Hengel said.
“Our expertise and tools are uniquely home-grown, and designed to serve Australia’s economy, workplaces and society. The centre will help ensure Australia remains competitive with other nations who are investing heavily in AI and machine learning, including China, USA, South Korea, Singapore, the UK and Japan.”
The professor continued, “The Centre for Augmented Reasoning will help to deliver the national AI Roadmap prepared by Data 61 and also supports a range of industry strategies in agriculture, mining, forestry, space and cyber security.
“This will be a national centre and I look forward to working with my colleagues around Australia in developing the next version of AI that makes technology easier for everyone to use.”
Commonwealth Minister for Education Dan Tehan said the new centre is an important part of the Morrison government’s $1 billion budget investment in research.
“This will be critical for Australia’s COVID-19 economic recovery, generating jobs of the future and establishing Australia as a 21st century economy,” Minister Tehan said.
“The Morrison government has made this investment to ensure Australia captures the benefits of the artificial intelligence revolution. This new research centre will support Australian industry, create jobs and economic growth, and improve the quality of life of all Australians.”
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall added that the centre would directly support the South Australian government’s strategy to establish Lot Fourteen as an “advanced technology innovation hub”, and would help support the state’s economy.
“The centre complements the establishment of other recent initiatives, agencies and facilities on Lot Fourteen, such as the Australian Space Agency, the Australian Cyber Security Centre, Stone & Chalk, Amazon Research Centre, and Accenture,” he added.
Senator Rex Patrick said the centre would be a “major drawcard” for young Australians to remain in South Australia, and would increase female participation in the AI and machine learning space.
“This is something I have been advocating for since the Senate inquiry into the Future of Work and Workers. I am pleased the federal government has listened to my calls,” he said.
[Related: Government hands down budget, focus on post-COVID resilience]
