Our partners
The Factory of the Future (FOF) enables businesses to add value to their products and to connect to global supply chains through digitalisation.
Did you know?
The Factory of the Future collaborates with Swinburne’s Manufacturing Futures Research Institute and is host to some advanced carbon fibre composites manufacturing and characterisation equipment.
Swinburne received a record A$135 million grant from engineering giant Siemens to digitalise its Factory of the Future and create Australia’s first fully immersed Industry 4.0 facility. It now houses one of Swinburne’s two Industry 4.0 testlabs.
Swinburne has placed Industry 4.0 at the heart of its Research and Innovation Strategy—and the Factory of the Future houses numerous partnerships driving this agenda, enabling university and industry to collaborate in this field across both research and teaching.
This is supported by a wider innovation ecosystem at Swinburne that includes many other external partners embedding parts of their operation on our campus.
Swinburne–Siemens Mindsphere Application and Demonstration Centre

Factory of the Future is home of the Siemens–Swinburne Mindsphere Application and Demonstration Centre, launched in August 2018. The centre is the first industry-university partnership that Siemens has undertaken around its Mindsphere platform — their cloud-based Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) operating system.
The Application and Demonstration Centre is unique in its industry and business engagement model, opening the campus to industry and business for co-creation, while facilitating education, training and research.
Advanced Manufacturing Industry 4.0 Hub
The Victorian Government’s Future Industries Fund provided a A$2 million grant to Swinburne to create the Advanced Manufacturing Industry 4.0 Hub in 2018. The Hub represents a partnership between IMCRC and the Victorian Government Department of Jobs, Precincts Regions and is pioneering an approach to university-industry collaboration where businesses and universities can co-create technology and business strategy.
Find out more about how the Hub is working with local manufacturers to develop digitalisation strategies for their businesses and provide training to help them use Industry 4.0 technologies in their business model.
Festo, TUM Asia and Swinburne focus on the future of Industry 4.0
Festo, the Technical University of Munich in Asia (TUM Asia) and Swinburne have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further develop their Industry 4.0 capabilities and train people in the skills needed for the future workforce.
The Competence Centre for Digitalisation, Technology and Innovation (CDTI), developed by Festo Singapore and TUM Asia, and Swinburne’s Factory of the Future will collaborate to create and deliver Industry 4.0 training offerings as well as business improvement services into the Asian market.
Learn more about this exciting partnership.
Keep on exploring
-
Factory of the Future
The Factory of the Future (FoF) provides industry and organisations with Industry 4.0 transformation pathway and tools, and allows companies to learn digitalisation technologies and explore recent advances in automation of manufacturing.
-
Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 is the next frontier, essential for the future of developing economies. At Swinburne, we’re using digital technologies to create social and economic impact as one of the only universities with a holistic 4.0 strategy.
Explore our news
-
- University
Swinburne-Siemens partnership is building the workforce of the future
Swinburne’s partnership with Siemens is enabling our students to work with industry and researchers, developing and co-creating new technologies and practices.
Monday 24 August 2020 -
- University
Festo, TUM Asia and Swinburne focus on the future of Industry 4.0
Festo, the Technical University of Munich in Asia (TUM Asia) and Swinburne have signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
Wednesday 22 July 2020 -
- Technology
- University
- Engineering
Swinburne success in 2020 ARC Industrial Transformation Research Program
Swinburne has obtained up to $3.64 million to support our involvement in the 2020 ARC Industrial Transformation Research Program
Thursday 16 July 2020 -
- Law
Three Swinburne subjects debut in Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2020
Automation and control has debuted in the top 100, with Swinburne ranked 10th in Australia and fourth in Victoria in this area.Wednesday 01 July 2020 -
- Technology
Technologies and tools for a manufacturing transformation: how to approach Industry 4.0
Dr Nico Adams writes about some business model possibilities and the questions a manufacturing company should ask before "getting into" Industry 4.0.Read more (Technologies and tools for a manufacturing transformation: how to approach Industry 4.0 )Friday 26 June 2020 -
- Technology
Building better resilience through Industry 4.0
Swinburne continues to be at the forefront of Industry 4.0, thanks in part to its collaboration with industry partners from around the worldWednesday 20 May 2020 -
- Science
Coronavirus-fighting copper printed and installed at Swinburne
Swinburne has worked with manufacturer SPEE3D to trial copper door push plates that fight COVID-19 at its Hawthorn campus.Tuesday 21 April 2020 -
- University
Swinburne appoints new Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise)
Swinburne is proud to announce the appointment of Professor Bronwyn Fox as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise).Thursday 02 April 2020 -
- University
Three Swinburne scholars awarded Fulbright scholarships
The prestigious Fulbright Program in Australia has awarded scholarships to Anastassija (Stacey) Konash, Dr Karen Hughes and Dr Nina Papalia.Thursday 30 January 2020 -
- Engineering
Factory of the Future’s innovative take on digital twins
This explainer unpacks the origins and evolution of digital twins, and explains how Swinburne researchers are flipping usual development patterns.Tuesday 28 January 2020 -
- Technology
Future-proofing Australia’s smaller manufacturers
Swinburne’s Factory of the Future is building strategies for creating next-gen products and new service models for small-to medium-sized enterprises.Thursday 23 January 2020 -
- University
Swinburne innovation recognised at global awards
Swinburne has received global recognition as a leader in engagement and entrepreneurship at the inaugural 2020 Asia-Pacific Triple E Awards.Friday 17 January 2020 -
- Design
Swinburne experts share smart cities insights with delegation from Vietnam
Swinburne experts met with delegates from Ho Chi Minh City’s municipal government to discuss the future of smart technology and innovative design.Tuesday 03 December 2019 -
- Engineering
Swinburne’s Factory of the Future receives sleek, new robot to detect carbon fibre defects
Swinburne’s Factory of the Future has received a unique carbon fibre inspection system, Drapewatch, that better detects deformities during production.Monday 18 November 2019 -
- Astronomy
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Aleksandar Subic addresses National Press Club on the future of Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 will transform the world we live in, as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Aleksandar Subic discusses at the National Press Club.Thursday 31 October 2019 -
- Design
Swinburne’s Factory of the Future installs first-of-its-kind 3D metal parts printer
The LightSPEE3D 3D metal parts printer at Swinburne’s Factory of the Future creates industrial quality metal parts in just minutes.Wednesday 28 August 2019 -
- Design
Swinburne launches Australia’s first joint Master of Architecture and Urban Design
Swinburne will offer a joint Master of Architecture and Urban Design from August 2019.Friday 26 April 2019 -
- Technology
Global Innovation Linkage success for Swinburne and partners
Swinburne awarded $1 million funding towards $3.5 million project focused on Industry 4.0 manufacturing.Friday 12 April 2019 -
- University
Siemens Australia CEO Jeff Connolly named adjunct professor of Swinburne
Mr Jeff Connolly has been appointed in recognition of his contributions to the university and Industry 4.0 in Australia.Monday 01 April 2019 -
- Technology
Swinburne receives funding to stop smart home devices getting hacked
The Minister for Education Dan Tehan has awarded Swinburne researchers $360,000 to develop technology preventing cyber-attacks on smart home devices.Tuesday 15 January 2019
Contact the Factory of the Future
Contact us to enquire about solutions for your business, our projects and our initiatives. There are many ways to engage with us across our Industry 4.0 capabilities. Please contact Nico Adams, Director, Factory of the Future on +61 3 9214 5011 or via nicoadams@swinburne.edu.au to start a conversation.