2025 investment in Innovation Places sets a foundation for success in 2026

2025 marked the first full year of South Australia’s Innovation Places Framework. This network of innovation places brings together SA’s innovation districts, business parks and manufacturing precincts with industry, education and research organisations.

Targeted investment by both government and the private sector in infrastructure and innovation, such as world‑class precincts like Lot Fourteen and Tonsley Innovation District, and competitive business conditions with city office space ~58 % cheaper than Sydney, strengthens South Australia’s ability to attract global industries, relocate new operations from interstate, create highly‑skilled jobs, and drive economic growth.

Investing in biotech

The South Australian node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF-SA), in collaboration with Melbourne MedTech startup Akeeko Medical and the Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP) is transforming healthcare delivery with the development of an all-in-one uretic stent insertion device.

MicroX, a leader in cold cathode X-ray technology, have received a $4.4M Australian government grant to build and trial an ambulance with its Head CT device that will enable real-world patient imaging and workflow testing.

The Australian Government and Flinders University have committed $300M to construct a three story clinical space and research and training centre that will be able to treat 100 patients simultaneously.

With construction planned to begin in 2027, the new centre will enable Flinders University to produce an additional 1300 work-ready graduates each year once complete.

Investing in manufacturing

The Factory of the Future at Tonsley Innovation District will open in early-2026. Led by Flinders University in partnership with the South Australian Government and key industry collaborators, is backed by over $14M in federal and state funding to deliver cutting-edge automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing capabilities, creating a hub for industry collaboration and workforce upskilling.

Investment in Australia’s manufacturing centre remains strong, with Uni SA (now Adelaide University), Additive Manufacturing CRC and the SMART CRC collectively awarded more than $500M in funding from industry, research organisations and government. Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, is revolutionising the way many industries work.

SAGE Group has officially launched a new Advanced Manufacturing Centre at Tonsley Innovation District in South Australia, boosting the company’s production of mission-critical systems for the Australian Defence Force and AUKUS-aligned programs.

The facility includes 1,750m² of manufacturing space, along with engineering and support offices, accommodating up to 100 highly skilled employees.

Investing in defence

Konsberg Defence Australia opened its new $25M Australian manufacturing headquarters at Technology Park, Mawson Lakes, in September 2025. The facility will be one of only two facilities in the world capable of producing Naval Strike Missiles and Joint Strike Missiles and will support acquisition and sustainment programs for the Australian armed forces.

Also at Mawson Lakes, Saab opened its new state-of-the-art Sovereign Combat Systems Collaboration Centre and expanded headquarters. The Collaboration Centre will be a hub for Saab, industry. defence and research partners to work together to integrate combat system capabilities at speed to meet the Australian Defence Force’s operational requirements.

BAE Systems Australia announced plans for a $25M upgrade to its Edinburgh Parks Defence Precinct. The upgrade will include a new Security Operations Centre to support AUKUS and Jindalee Operational Network (JORN) programs, as well as machining facilities to boost missile production for the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile program.

The Australian Government is investing $480M into educating Australia’s naval shipbuilding and submarine workforce with the build of the Skills and Training Academy at Osborne, drawing on deep local industry experience to ensure training aligns with industry requirements.

As the state government looks to attract more defence industry investment, a 400 hectare parcel of agricultural land adjacent to the Royal Australian Air Force Edinburgh Air Base has been proposed for re-zoning for manufacturing and defence to enable industry clustering and collaboration.

In mid-2026, the $200M Deep Maintenance and Modification Facility (DMMF) project will be complete, revolutionising how military aircraft are maintained and modified, enhancing Australia’s sovereign capabilities. The 3.1 hectare facility will be leased to the Commonwealth for 30 years and operated by Boeing Defence Australia, creating 50 ongoing roles in advanced aircraft maintenance, engineering, avionics and logistics.

Back in the CBD, construction for the Innovation Centre at Lot Fourteen will begin in early-2026, an 11-storey flagship facility with pre-committed tenancy including BAE Systems, the Australian Defence Technologies Academy run by Adelaide University, an Innovation Hub and a Space Assembly and Testing facility run by the SA Space Industry Centre.

Investing in agriculture

In August, CSIRO opened a $6.5M lab facility at Waite Campus that will deliver unprecedented analytical capability used in environmental and groundwater assessment and management.

Plants for Space ARC Centre of Excellence, located at the Waite Campus, was awarded more than $12M in funding from the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency through its Synthetic Plants program to explore a world-first effort to build an artificial chromosome entirely from scratch in plants.

In 2026, the Mount Gambier Forestry Centre of Excellence will formally open to deliver world-leading research, education, product and market development, with a $16M investment from the State Government over 10 years at the newly named innovation place: Mount Gambier Budinya Precinct.