ARM Hub Leads Australia's $600 Billion Robotics Revolution

BRISBANE/SYDNEY - July 31, 2025 - Australia stands at a critical crossroads. While robotics companies globally surge toward trillion-dollar valuations, the nation risks watching breakthrough innovations migrate offshore unless decisive action builds sovereign capability now.

ARM Hub, Australia's Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing leader, is addressing this challenge head-on through three game-changing initiatives that position the country as a global robotics powerhouse.

Building Australia's Robotics Sector Through Strategic Partnerships
ARM Hub's Propel-AIR program represents Australia's first dedicated AI and robotics accelerator, connecting local innovators directly to Mass Robotics in Boston, the heart of global robotics innovation. 

Launched by then-Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic in December 2024, the sprint attracted entries across ocean technology, space exploration, agriculture, and manufacturing.

"Australia isn't just dreaming of a robotics future, we're building it right now," said ARM Hub CEO Professor Cori Stewart. "Our role is creating the pathways that turn brilliant Australian ideas into billion-dollar global companies that stay home."

ARM Hub CEO Professor Cori Stewart: 'We're building the infrastructure for Australia's next industrial revolution."

The Propel-AIR program addresses a stark reality: Australian robotics companies reached $18 billion in value by 2021, but too often foreign firms commercialise local innovations. ARM Hub's model reverses this trend through proven partnerships that deliver global market access.

Seascape Autonomy, a Propel-AIR finalist developing autonomous seafloor mapping platforms, exemplifies this impact. The University of Sydney spinout operates across offshore energy, environmental monitoring, and defence markets with proven commercial traction.

"We built the Seeker to meet urgent demand for detailed subsea data in environmental assessment, offshore energy, and defence," said Professor Stefan Williams, Co-founder and Professor of Robotics at the University of Sydney. "It's cost-effective, scalable, and produces decision-grade information."

With the Propel-AIR winner to be announced within days, the program demonstrates ARM Hub's systematic approach to building Australia's robotics ecosystem. Six finalists are competing for a month-long residency at Mass Robotics, providing direct access to Boston Dynamics, MIT, and Silicon Valley's RoboBusiness conference.

Sustainable Industry Growth Through AI Integration
The convergence of generative AI and robotics represents the century's defining technological shift. ARM Hub's new AI Adopt Centre, launched at SXSW Sydney, provides 30,000 SMEs with practical AI implementation pathways over three years.

"Research shows AI and automation could increase Australia's productivity by 150%," Professor Stewart noted. "But transformation requires data readiness, innovating on existing practices, skills development, and strategic implementation. That's exactly what our Centre delivers."

Partnership with Microsoft, Databricks, and local AI specialists creates a comprehensive support ecosystem preventing innovation exodus while building competitive advantage. Real-world applications span from rapid medical diagnostics to food production to stratospheric communications platforms.

The approach addresses a critical investment problem in Australia's innovation sector. "Australia invests the vast majority of its $12B in annual R&D spend in the early stage research and almost nothing on making money out of it or helping local industry adopt it. This is the major difference between us and other OECD countries and explains Australia's poor ratings, such as being 105th out of 135 countries on the Harvard Atlas Economic Complexity index," Professor Stewart highlighted. "We're not-for-profit, housing the technical teams and partnerships that can deliver this, de-risking adoption so it can occur here in Australia."

The Great Convergence: Where AI Meets Robotics
Traditional robotics focused on repetitive tasks. Today's AI-powered systems adapt, learn, and solve complex problems across critical industries. ARM Hub portfolio companies and Propel-AIR finalists exemplify this convergence through breakthrough applications.

The sprint finalists showcase the breadth of Australian innovation: Seascape Autonomy's underwater robots photograph ocean floors, Element Robotics creates lunar mission simulators, Nexobot builds parcel sorting platforms, J Robotics develops chemical-free vineyard treatments, Inneurva produces tactile AI skin for humanoid robots, and Traversal Labs transforms industrial video into actionable data.

Stratoship's 11-hour stratospheric flights address Australia's satellite dependency during emergencies. 

Biotech partnerships demonstrate AI-enhanced pathogen detection capabilities. Six Propel-AIR finalists showcase innovations from underwater ocean mapping to lunar mission robotics.

McKinsey modelling cited at the Propel-AIR launch projects this convergence could add $170-600 billion annually to Australia's GDP by 2030. "We're building the infrastructure and capability that transforms industries while keeping Australian innovation competitive globally," Professor Stewart explained.

Leading Australia's Charge
ARM Hub's leadership stems from proven results: successful company launches, strategic government partnerships, and international collaboration that keeps Australian innovation competitive globally. The organisation's 28-partner network spans the continent, ensuring regional access to world-class expertise.

This alignment was reinforced last week when Professor Stewart met with Minister for Science, Industry and Innovation Tim Ayres at the National Manufacturing Summit. The Minister emphasised the urgent need to reverse Australia's declining R&D investment and rebuild industrial capability, calling AI adoption essential for Australia's economic future.

Unlike traditional accelerators, ARM Hub's non-profit model prioritises building sovereign capability over short-term returns, creating sustainable pathways for Australian companies to scale without losing domestic ownership.

"We're not just supporting startups. We're building the infrastructure for Australia's next industrial revolution," Professor Stewart concluded. "The question isn't whether AI and robotics will transform our economy. It's whether we'll be helping lead that transformation, or just watch it happen elsewhere. Today's pitching finals showcase exactly this vision in action. By tonight, one of these brilliant Australian companies will be heading to the heart of global robotics innovation in Boston, taking Australian ingenuity to compete on the world stage."

ENDS

About ARM Hub: Australia's innovation centre building the industrial future through strategic partnerships, government collaboration, and international connections that build sovereign capability while competing globally.

Media Contact:
Angela Reed

Director Marketing and Memberships

E: angela.reed@armhub.com.au