- Published:
- Sunday 9 February 2020
The Andrews Labor Government has welcomed Lockheed Martin’s decision to locate its first R&D Centre outside the United States in Melbourne, further boosting Victoria’s position as the nation’s leader in research and innovation.
The new Centre is expected to add more than 20 researchers in three years, undertaking research in areas such as Hypersonics, Autonomy and Robotics, C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance), Cyber and Radar.
Victoria has a proven track record in advanced manufacturing, design and innovation, and is at the forefront of cyber defence technologies.
Our defence science and technology design, development and engineering capabilities are backed by Victoria’s world-class universities.
Lockheed Martin’s investment in Victoria’s knowledge base is proof that defence research have applications in the broader economy and defence capabilities in Victoria are a compelling part of our proposition to the world.
The Labor Government is supporting the defence technologies sector as part of our $200 million Future Industries Fund to support high growth industries through job creation grants to specialist firms and companies.
Victoria’s defence sector contributes up to $8 billion to the state’s economy every year and the local industry includes more than 300 businesses, employing around 7,000 people.
Quotes attributable to the Premier, Daniel Andrews
“Lockheed Martin’s R&D lab will help Victoria attract and retain the best minds so we can continue to be the brains behind advanced manufacturing, defence technology and innovation in Australia.”
“This investment is a vote of confidence in our workforce and will help promote Victoria’s innovation and design capabilities around the world.”
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan
“Lockheed Martin’s decision to locate its first R&D Centre outside the United States in Victoria is testament to Victoria’s world-class researchers and institutions.”
“Victoria is home to a third of Australia’s defence industry, a world class R&D sector and has one third of the nation’s engineers – our capacity and skills place Victoria at the forefront of defence research and innovation.”