Speeches
Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Technology and Innovation Roundtable with Beyond Makers Program (Tokyo)
I am pleased to be here at today’s Technology and Innovation Roundtable.
Japan is a trusted partner for South Australia in advanced manufacturing and innovation with strong alignment between Japan’s industrial strengths and South Australia’s innovation ecosystem.
We have state-of-the-art, dynamic innovation places which attract future focused industries in critical technology hubs and research centres and South Australia has all the conditions needed to bolster a startup and innovation ecosystem.
We have globally competitive universities, aligned research institutes and business incubators, along with industry capabilities of interest that include defence, space, health and renewable energy.
The South Australia Innovation Places Leadership Framework, an Australian-first, provides an ambitious, clear and overarching vision to fully realise the state’s significant investment in innovation places.
It is a roadmap to connect more than 20 innovation places to an organised network of capabilities to nurture idea creation, accelerate research and development, facilitate greater commercialisation and stimulate economic growth and complexity.
Beyond Makers Program
By 2035, our statewide innovation places will add approximately AUD$6.4 billion to South Australia’s economy and there is the opportunity for us to foster deeper collaboration with international partners through initiatives such as the Beyond Makers Program.
A program where we can focus on co-development, technology exchange and long-term strategic partnerships.
I commend the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for the Beyond Makers Program, a practical model for international co-creation.
There is always value in moving beyond traditional trade toward joint development and long-term partnerships.
I am pleased that two South Australian companies, who I met with before travelling to Tokyo, have been selected for the Beyond Makers program:
- AICRAFT which designs and manufactures smart sensors, tailored systems and electronic boards powered by artificial intelligence and;
- Uing which designs and develops virtual touchscreens.
I understand that both companies found the program unique and beneficial with AICRAFT in the process of signing an MoU with two local Japanese SMEs, with a view to future commercial expansion – a great result for the South Australian company and perfect example of how partnerships can lead to opportunities.
Japan’s role as a stable, high-quality manufacturing and supply chain partner is well established and continues to increase in value to South Australia as we pursue diversified global supply chains and opportunities for further partnerships.
South Australia’s economy
As one of Australia’s top performing economies, and the best place in Australia to do business, South Australia’s economy continues to perform well, despite global disruptions.
Investment from both domestic and international markets play an important role in making South Australia an increasingly engaged global economy – bringing in know-how and best practice from around the world.
The opportunity, through programs like Beyond Makers, to access global technology and research, will help both our regions create jobs, facilitate new and innovative products and services to address global challenges and provide new opportunities for investment and two-way trade.
With South Australian Government representation here in Tokyo, there is an appetite to strengthen government-to-government collaboration to support industry linkages, and I encourage those of you in the room, to reach out to our trade and investment office for further information on how to connect with our state.
I look forward to today’s discussion and learning more about how we can further connect South Australian startups and SMEs to expand our collaboration across Japan, with opportunities for two-way exchange and deeper institutional partnerships or participation in programs like Beyond Makers.
Thank you.