ARM HUB & ICN: ACCELERATING SMART MANUFACTURING FOR AUSTRALIAN SMES

BRISBANE - ARM Hub and the Industry Capability Network (ICN) today announced a strategic cooperative partnership designed to accelerate the competitiveness of Australian small and medium enterprises through combined access to advanced manufacturing capabilities and major project opportunities.

Speaking from the CEDA AI Leadership Summit in Brisbane, ARM Hub CEO Prof. Cori Stewart says the partnership will see both organisations collaborate on promotion, joint thought leadership, research initiatives, and access to programs and accelerators for their respective networks. 

"Australian manufacturers have real opportunities to compete for major projects across infrastructure, defence, renewable energy, and major events like Brisbane 2032, while building capabilities to supply global markets," said Stewart. "ARM Hub is ready to support local businesses to innovate and scale their operations by adopting advanced technologies such as AI and automation that are now essential for sustained market competitiveness. Through this partnership with ICN, we can reach more SMEs across the country and help them integrate advanced manufacturing solutions into their operations. Together, we're building a stronger, more capable manufacturing sector."

Connecting capability with opportunity

The collaboration provides manufacturers with combined technical capability development and market access. ARM Hub delivers commercially focused AI training, implementation roadmap workshops, and pathways for SMEs to adopt robotics and AI responsibly. ICN's Gateway platform connects suppliers with major projects across defence, infrastructure, renewable energy, and major events.

ARM Hub members will gain access to ICN's Gateway platform, joining a network of more than 80,000 established suppliers competing for around $400 billion worth of projects.

ICN subscribers gain access to ARM Hub's robotics expertise, AI integration programs, and Industry 5.0 accelerators. This builds the technical edge manufacturers need to win and deliver major contracts.

Multiplying impact

When manufacturers adopt advanced technologies through ARM Hub programs, they simultaneously gain market access through ICN's network. When they win major contracts through ICN connections, ARM Hub's technical support ensures successful delivery.

Warren Jansen, CEO of ICN National Office, said: "By combining ICN's extensive industry network and supplier development expertise with ARM Hub's world-class robotics and Industry 5.0 knowledge, we can help more Australian SMEs compete on the global stage and access opportunities in major projects."

The collaboration fosters a world-class AI ecosystem in Australia by connecting local AI companies to new clients, markets and capital while providing SMEs with free training and testing pathways for new AI applications.