Shoestring expands its international reach after UNSW Canberra becomes the latest collaborator to the Digital Shoestring programme.
UNSW Canberra has recently become the latest academic collaborator in the Digital Shoestring programme, expanding its international reach and making our low cost, accessible digital technologies available to more small businesses. Associate Professor Matthew Doolan from UNSW Canberra will lead in coordinating the Shoestring programme in Australian Capital Territory and surrounding regions.
The partnership builds on a successful regional programme with the government in Western Australia, expanding the Shoestring offering to a wider area of the country.
Professor Duncan McFarlane, founder of Shoestring and Professor of Industrial Information Engineering at the University of Cambridge, says
“We are excited to be collaborating with UNSW Canberra and expand our International Shoestring programme. We know how impactful Shoestring can be on small companies – this collaboration will allow us to grow Shoestring’s reach in a new region and help many more SME’s in the months and years to come.“
The programme is expected to progress in three phases: scoping, demonstration & pilot and roll out, to ensure the right support in place in the region. During the collaboration, Digital Shoestring at the Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge, will help shape the programme, offer support in training and continue developing a catalogue of “shoestring-ready” hardware and software technologies, while UNSW Canberra will be the academic lead responsible for establishing an ecosystem of SME end users, industry associations and education/training organisations within the region, to help guide activities.
Industry 4.0 and digital transformation is a challenge for all organisations, but can feel inaccessible to smaller ones. Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring’s work has shown that with its inexpensive digital solutions and, crucially, the right local infrastructure, it can be done.
“We are excited to collaborate with Shoestring and look forward to bringing the program to Australia to help businesses implement simple, cost-effective digital solutions”
– Associate Professor Matthew Doolan, UNSW Canberra
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Based in Canberra or surrounding areas and interested in being part of the programme?
Contact Professor Matthew Doolan on matthew.doolan@unsw.edu.au