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Government of South Australia - Department of State Development

    Critical and emerging technologies

    South Australia has world-class critical and emerging technology capabilities, attracting international attention and partnerships.

    These capabilities will further strengthen our position as a security partner of choice and help us forecast and prepare for the technology demands of the future.

    Our critical and emerging technology capabilities aligned with the national interest, are supported by transformational institutes conducting world-class research and development.

    These same capabilities can also be applied to help solve data analysis, sustainability, health and medical, creative industries and manufacturing challenges – and they’re attracting multinational corporations to South Australia.

    South Australia’s capabilities include:

    • world-leading artificial intelligence, machine learning and computer vision capabilities
    • a mature and growing cyber security ecosystem
    • strong frontier technologies, including photonics and quantum sensing research and industry capabilities.

    Critical and emerging technologies strengths

    Critical and emerging technologies highlights

    Investment and trade opportunities

    • Commercial and research partnerships in frontier technologies including: machine learning, cybersecurity, photonics and quantum sensing
    • Critical technology capabilities linked to AUKUS pillar II for export
    • Investment into our strong Gaming and visual effects industry to further grow services exports.

    Target markets

    • US and UK
    • Japan and Korea
    • Europe
    • India
    • Southeast Asia
    • Europe.

    South Australian Government supported initiatives

    DSD supports establishment and growth of local start-ups by connecting founders with the tools, knowledge and resources required to accelerate business success.

    South Australia’s Advanced Manufacturing Strategy – developed by DSD in collaboration with industry – leverages our competitive advantages to embrace sovereign manufacturing in a circular, net zero industrial future.

    South Australia’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy, to support growth of the state’s AI capabilities, is also in development.

    The A Place to Create policy, led by the Department of Premier and Cabinet, sets out a whole of government approach to supporting the arts, culture and creative industries, including actions to develop export markets and create opportunities for international collaboration.

    South Australian industry supported ecosystem

    The South Australian Government works closely with the following organisations and industry sectors to facilitate trade and investment outcomes for the state.

    The Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML), based at Lot Fourteen, is a world-class research institute within the University of Adelaide. It has over 180 members and has demonstrated an effective and sustainable model for research collaboration between universities, industry and government.

    It has partnered with local and global organisations such as Commbank and the CSIRO to help innovate their products and services.

    South Australia’s mature and growing cyber security ecosystem, is home to over 50 companies with specialised capability that are supporting some of the nation’s largest defence contracts.

    Nation-leading hubs for cyber expertise, such as Space, Intelligence, National Security and Cyber Division have headquarters in South Australia.

    South Australia’s strong frontier technologies (photonics and quantum sensing research and industry capabilities), are driven by about 50 businesses operating in the photonics/quantum sector, with strengths in the defence and space, renewable energy and green hydrogen, and the health and medical industry sectors.

    The University of Adelaide’s Institute for Photonics (IPAS) works with partners to deliver research on quantum materials, quantum clocks, quantum optical fibre, quantum sensing and quantum communications.

    The state’s creative industries sector employs more than 1 in 10 of Australia’s game developers, collaborating to create world‑leading visual effects.