PRESS RELEASE
Hon Kyam Maher MLC
Minister for Science and Information Economy
An innovative high tech South Australian firm will use $50,000 in State Government funding to develop ground breaking technology with global application that has the potential to change how we integrate power that controls our homes.
The IVP funding will help Lonsdale-based WBC Group, in partnership with Flinders University, to research and develop an initial prototype product focussed on controlling typical electrical products such as lighting, and will be imbedded in the infrastructure during construction.
The product will also be easily integrated into home automation systems and facilitate localised internet networks to provide a compelling offering for local manufacturing. The concept has broad consumer, commercial and manufacturing potential, both locally and on a global scale.
The new technology has possible applications across many sectors including commercial, modular buildings, housing and high density residential.
Background
Established in 2009, WBC has already successfully commercialised products for the construction sector including WireByClick and more recently the MLEX solutions.
Flinders University will leverage on existing research and IP to develop and build a prototype model of the proposed new technology. WBC founder and managing director Mark Fahey says this new solution has the potential to change how we control our environments and the platform we use to distribute data, including Ethernet within our homes.
WBC will seek private investment for the commercialisation phase of the project which will include new venture firm to be located in South Australia called UniPartners.
Quotes attributable to Science and Information Economy Minister Kyam Maher
South Australia has a bold vision to become a national and international destination of choice for innovation and investment. That’s why in the latest State Budget we invested almost $80 million to accelerate South Australia’s transformation to a modern, innovative economy that supports and creates jobs for the future.
Our State enjoys a relatively high number of innovators and the Government is backing its faith in them by helping develop businesses out of their ideas.
That investment includes a $50 million SA Venture Capital Fund to help businesses secure vital investment, a $10 million SA Early Commercialisation Fund to help start-ups turn their innovative ideas into commercial products and services, $7.5 million to support UniSA’s Future Industries Institute, and $4.65 million for ultra-high speed internet for Adelaide’s innovation precincts.
We need to better leverage our existing innovation assets such as successful research clusters in areas such as medical devices and reproductive health, and our established industry precincts in health, medical technology, and bioscience.
Quotes attributable to WBC managing director Mark Fahey
We have some of the most impressive researches, who are top of class internationally, working on fantastic leading edge technologies and developments right here in this state.
We are extremely fortunate to be getting this government funding to help us team up with Flinders Uni to work on this project. Our team is extremely excited about the outcomes this will have for us and for the industry.
We are also very keen to work with other market leaders in the industry who might have applications which can integrate with what we’re doing or we can integrate to what they are doing to drive even better value for the end user.
