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Microsoft and Nokia have joined the likes of Amazon, setting up its Azure Space team at Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen precinct to explore how space and 5G innovation can address technological challenges in multiple industries.
The two will use artificial intelligence (AI) to uncover how space technology and 5G telecommunications can deliver a new era of digital transformation.
Currently estimated to be worth $450 billion, it is projected the global space industry will be valued at $1.1 trillion by 2040.
Microsoft’s Azure Space lead in Australia Lynn McDonald says the two companies will explore how space and 5G innovation can be adopted for the benefit of the industry in South Australia and nationally.
“We are delighted about this agreement with the South Australian Government and the opportunity to work with Nokia as we bring together interdisciplinary experts to develop, test and deploy new technologies and strategies that respond to some of the biggest challenges facing organisations today,” says McDonald.
The move comes after Amazon expanded its Adelaide presence in February, adding a new office for a team carrying out AI and machine-learning research. The precinct's line-up already includes the Australian Space Agency, the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre, MIT bigdata Living Lab, the Australian Institute of Machine Learning, and the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre.
“Our continued investment in the Lot Fourteen innovation precinct and our ongoing work with industry on a $6.5 million initiative to design and build a Low Earth Orbit satellite to provide space-derived services to the state, signals South Australia’s determination to continue to lead in this sector,” said Minister for Trade and Investment Stephen Patterson.
“This important collaboration with Nokia will allow Australian organisations in multiple sectors to take a giant leap forward into a new era of communications and cloud computing, making the most of space data and technology and catapulting them to the very forefront of digital innovation."
Premier Steven Marshall welcomed both major companies to the Lot Fourteen precinct.
“This partnership between Microsoft and Nokia further cements our state’s standing within the global space industry and follows several big-name companies such as Google and Amazon setting up a presence at Lot Fourteen,” Marshall said.
“South Australia currently has more people employed than ever before in our state’s history and companies such as Microsoft and Nokia expanding their presence is going to go a long way in creating even more jobs for South Australians into the future.”
5G technology is also set to add an $8 trillion to global GDP by 2030.
“Nokia is proud to partner with Microsoft and the South Australian Government to explore the industry transformation potential for 5G and space,” said Nokia managing director of Australia and New Zealand Anna Wills.
“We believe that by combining our 5G for industry capabilities with Microsoft’s space and computing capabilities, we can deliver solutions that promise deep and lasting impact for Australian industries in productivity, efficiency and safety, and we’re excited to begin that work in South Australia.”
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