Emerging Technologies – led by Swinburne University of Technology

Digital transformation has tremendous potential to drive innovation and growth across Australian industries. But it also enables significant threats.

The problem

Australian manufacturers are facing cybersecurity challenges from vulnerabilities in manufacturing software, unreliable data flow analyses to secure smart manufacturing, a lack of data-driven control system assessments and the absence of safe, responsible AI in production.

Australia’s Digital Trust Report 2020 estimates that a four-week interruption to digital infrastructures resulting from a significant cyber incident would cost the economy $30 billion (1.5% of Australia’s GDP) and around 163,000 jobs.

The goal

Driven by the urgent, real-life needs from our industry partners such as DXC, Amazon, ASTA and Sysbox, this program will equip students to build sovereign Australian cyber capabilities to secure business-critical manufacturing systems.

Outcomes you’ll drive

• A high-calibre workforce with expertise to ensure that Australia remains the global hub for high-quality and secure manufacturing during the sector’s digital transformation.
• A novel and practical secure development process to build industry 4.0 with safety, security, privacy and trust – ultimately delivering significant cost savings, improved productivity and maximised opportunities associated with the digital economy.
• Generate cohort-based, industry-oriented research collaborations and graduate training programs within the primary focuses of our partners and associated sectors.
• Theories and tools on recognising and eliminating human-centric security issues in industry 4.0, for which the attack surface arises from both the development team and end users.
• Progress in the Digital Economy Strategy 2030, addressing the strength and sector segments related to software, security operations and underlying processes.
• Fewer obstacles for Australian businesses to adopt cybersecurity solutions, enabling them to scale, develop and export innovative solutions.
• Competitive entities and flexible solutions to securing IP and commercialisation rights, allowing for pre-competitive and non-product-related research that benefits partners and maximises industry impact.

Your study experience

Join the best graduate students to solve key cybersecurity challenges in the manufacturing industry through an innovative cohort model. It will see you:

• Collaborate with major players in the manufacturing sector, CSIRO and universities to address pressing cybersecurity needs.
• Leverage diverse expertise in IT, human capital and management to improve productivity, responsibility, awareness and culture.
• Develop cybersecurity technologies to help Australian manufacturing businesses identify, protect, respond to and recover from cyberattacks.
• Tackle challenges around community acceptance and social impact associated with adopting new cybersecurity technologies in manufacturing.
• Promote effective digital transformation and ultimately growth across the country’s manufacturing sector.
• gain important attributes such as research innovation and independence, as well as teamwork and leadership, to enhance their employability and career prospects.

What you will receive