Unveiling the new CORE Innovation Hub today, Energy and Mining Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan said the focus was to create valuable working links within one of the state’s most important sectors.

CORE joins a list of peak groups based at the North Terrace Lot Fourteen technology precinct with plans to operate a satellite hub at the Tonsley Innovation Centre in the city’s south.

As part of today’s announcement during the state’s online Copper to the World conference, a new open source digital map created for the hub will also be unveiled.

The map pinpoints the state’s key mining and resources companies and innovative startups, along with technology and academic research clusters.

“CORE Innovation Hub will provide opportunities designed to activate and support innovation and new technologies, including the transfer of ideas and solutions between the emerging space, defence, energy and resource industries,” van Holst Pellekaan said.

“This will allow the energy and mining sectors to sit at the forefront of technology, share enterprising ideas, new ventures and creativity with the best and brightest out there.”

CORE will be centred within the Stone & Chalk Startup Hub with its Tonsley satellite office connected to the SA Drill Core Reference Library. Lot Fourteen is also home to the Australian Space Agency and the Australian Institute of Machine Learning.

CORE Innovation Hub state manager Renee Hakendorf said key focuses included helping industry newcomers build relationships with the right partners to grow and to help major companies find talent and cutting edge equipment or technology.

The hub aims to draw together leading minds to de-risk projects within the mining and resources sector, to reduce production costs, increase reliability and forge partnerships to trial new technologies.

“We are looking at bringing technology to a global audience and how we can provide a sand pit for innovation testing,” Hakendorf said.

“Managing a remote workforce has become very important as well.

“Jobs growth now more than ever is critical in South Australia, and by encouraging learning and collaboration, CORE will assist the sector to embed emerging skills in areas like data analytics, automation and artificial intelligence across their existing workforce.”

Hakendorf said the next stage was to engage with the community to draw in new members and to launch a series of training programs over the next few months.

The hub is being funded through the State Government’s Economic and Business Development Growth Fund. 

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