MELBOURNE: Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, commenced his official working visit to Australia by visiting two high-tech research laboratories at Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn Campus on Tuesday.

Accompanying the Sarawak Premier were the Sarawak State Secretary, Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Sarawak State Financial Secretary, Dato Sri Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar, Chairman of the Swinburne Sarawak Board of Directors, Datuk Amar Jaul Samion, Political Secretary to the Sarawak Premier, Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, Director of Yayasan Sarawak Mersal Abang Rosli, and other members of the Sarawak Government delegation.   

His visit began at the Factory of the Future and Digital Innovation Lab where he was briefed on the operations of the research laboratory by its Director, Professor Prem Prakash Jayaraman.

He spent about 40 minutes witnessing a demonstration of automated manufacturing systems through a combination of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), Industry 4.0 applications, innovation and research, and data analytics.

Immediately afterwards, the Sarawak Premier visited the Siemens Swinburne Energy Transition Hub which focuses on research in various fields of technology.

These include renewable energy, energy storage systems, carbon capture, electric vehicles, community microgrid energy management systems, electricity for renewable energy, and various other technological solutions.

During the approximately one-hour visit, he was briefed by its Director, Professor Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian on several studies conducted at the laboratory such as the concept of wireless charging vehicles, sharing and transferring renewable energy, and many more.

Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari and the Sarawak Government delegation then held a closed-door discussion for about an hour with the Vice-Chancellor of Swinburne University of Technology, Professor Pascale Quester, and the university's senior management.

After lunch, the Sarawak Premier had the opportunity to meet with 16 Sarawakian students studying at Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn Campus.

In the afternoon, the Sarawak Premier left for the National 4.0 Industry (Advanced Manufacturing) Testbed at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Clayton, which is about a 40-minute drive from the Swinburne main campus.

He spent about an hour listening to presentations from Facility Manager Jimmy Thomas and Professor Suresh Palanisamy on the carbon fiber composite manufacturing process at the laboratory.

The advanced testing laboratory provides fully digitally supported engineering and manufacturing solutions for parts, processes and entire systems for automotive, aerospace, production and more.   

Meanwhile, the Sarawak Premier is scheduled to deliver a keynote address titled 'The Powerhouse of Green Economy in ASEAN' at the ASEAN Australia Business Forum 2024 at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney on Thursday. -UKASnews