Blue Sky Forum

The Australian Industry Group in conjunction with the Australian Industry InnovationXchange and the University of Wollongong held a Blue Sky Forum as part of Innovation Week on 4 May 2004 in the University of Wollongong Function Centre. Leading industry figures from the field of automation outlined the challenges for their sector and, through discussion, “blue sky”-ed the opportunities these present to researchers for further direction.

The forum, facilitated by Professor Peter Robinson, was introduced by Professor Chris Cook, Dean of the Facuty of Engineering who provided an update on the local application of automation technologies as well as opportunities for local industry to access University resources. Clive Gover, Managing Director of Simpson Welding Products Pty Ltd, talked about the positive spin-offs of automation, some of the difficulties he encountered which present opportunities for learning, and industry expectations from investments in advancement; Gary Dewhurst, General Manager of Alminco, Pty Ltd, discussed the needs and challenges of industry with a particular focus on future trends and the injection of industry demand into research; and Terry Askew, Director of M&S Engineering Pty Ltd, spoke on “Aggregating our collective intelligence: how industry and academia can work together.”

Last reviewed: 16 February, 2007