09 October 2019
Consolidating their Heads of Agreement, leading global technology consultants, Accenture and UniSA have established a new base at the University’s Innovation Collaboration Centre (ICC) on North Terrace.
The innovation hot spot not only showcases the technologies available now that will be integral to future business and industry success, it will also be a place for co-creation and collaboration with UniSA researchers, government bodies, start-ups and community groups.
The initial focus will be on healthcare, defence and industry X.O, with projects already in the pipeline to address some of the challenges facing aged care, workforce capability and future skills.
By coming together in this way, Accenture and UniSA will be collaborating to solve real-world problems, such as addressing challenges in aged care by identifying new models of care and holistic patient treatment, as well as more effective training and education for employees.
This innovation initiative has a big emphasis on cutting-edge international research as well as a focus on creating industry placements and integrated learning opportunities for students, making them “workforce ready”.
UniSA Vice Chancellor Prof David Lloyd says the joint initiative will deliver SA researchers, start-ups, entrepreneurs and industry innovators, an opportunity to work together to explore how technologies and technology solutions can reshape business.
“From augmented reality and artificial intelligence to block chain systems - technologies are revolutionising business and industry and that process is ongoing and rapid,” Prof Lloyd says.
“The goal of this collaboration is to offer local start-ups and industry sectors access to the ideas that will help to transform their operations and support local innovators to step ahead of the game.
“Co-located with UniSA’s already highly successful innovation hub, the ICC, Accenture at UniSA will deliver a showcase for new technology solutions with an emphasis on the health and defence sectors where UniSA has a network of strong partnerships and collaborations.
“We are delighted to be working with Accenture in support of South Australian business and industry.”
Government and Health Innovation Lead for Accenture Australia and New Zealand, Edmund Gardner says the company will be bringing its deep technological expertise in areas such as Industry X.O, together with industry experience in health and defence, to help seed ideas and nurture innovation to improve the way citizens live and work.
“Our joint aspiration for this space is to create a global showcase which has widespread economic and social impact that help innovative ideas to take root and grow; by combining the best minds in academia and industry and employing the latest technology we want to achieve meaningful change for the citizens of South Australia in areas that really matter, such as health,” Gardner says.
“Having an innovative edge has never been more important as we look to future proof our workforce and ensure we remain competitive. Another goal, is to focus on job creation and ensuring our young people possess the in-demand skills and experience required by employers in the next decade.”
The space will be used for innovation showcases, ideation and rapid prototyping workshops, networking sessions and hackathons, the first of which is due to take place this November.
SA Minister for Innovation and Skills, David Pisoni says the collaboration between UniSA and Accenture presents important opportunities for the State.
“Bringing together private enterprise and academic expertise is a win-win,” Pisoni says.
“The University has a network of links to the health and defence sectors through both research and teaching and Accenture has global expertise in the kind of technological innovations that transform business and industry.
“Working together, this collaboration has the potential to deliver great gains for a range of South Australian enterprises especially in the health and defence sectors.”
UniSA media contact: Michèle Nardelli phone: +61 418 823 673 or +61 8 8302 0966 email: michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au
