As part of its AI action plan, the company will establish industry-run artificial intelligence (AI) and digital competence centers.
Technology and science Melissa Price announced the cash, which would be divided across the centres, to help accelerate the commercialization of AI research in Australia.
The money comes nearly a year after the government announced the centres as part of its $124.1 million AI action plan.
Each centre, in collaboration with Data61’s national AI centre, will choose a priority area in certain AI applications.
The target areas will be aligned with the government’s digital economy strategy’s digital growth goals or the modern manufacturing initiative’s national manufacturing priorities.
According to Price, the centres would “provide as a front door for SMEs to strengthen their AI capabilities in order to implement AI products in their enterprises.”
“They will bring together industries, research institutions, innovation centres, and companies to build an ecosystem that will promote AI innovation, commercialization, and adoption,” she explained.
Each centre can get up to $11 million in grants, with applicants needed to collaborate with at least one business partner and “build on an existing technology, industrial cluster, or institution.”
According to the government, bidders “must contribute 25% of the overall project budget and may give extra in-kind contributions.”
