The Sydney Aerospace and Defence Interest Group (SADIG), formed in 2012 to provide local support for innovation, skills and supply chain, will be forced to implement new operating structures as a result of major funding cuts to Regional Develepment Australia (RDA) Sydney by the Federal and State Governments.
SADIG chairman Chris Williams said the measures were crucial "to ensure the initiatives for industry in additional investment and jobs, and research interests developed over the past 6 years are maintained and further developed".
Departing executive officer RDA Sydney Bob Germaine stated that with planned changes to the National RDA focus, budgets and future activities, it will be RDA Sydney’s immediate objective to engage with the broader SADIG industry membership to determine a transition path and new way forward to a sustainable funded delivery model that encourages and facilitates inputs from its industry members, researchers and many stakeholders, including Local, State and Commonwealth Governments.’
‘Since start-up and launch of SADIG in 2012, many notable achievements can be cited for furthering the economic development of the NSW Aerospace and Defence Industry sectors’.
Germaine emphasised that future success for SADIG will lie in its ability to improve collaboration between industry groups in NSW, and to capture the collective innovative skills, talent and support of its members and provide value in return.
"It is hoped SADIG stakeholders remain committed to helping in developing collaborative partnerships and solutions supporting innovation, and commercialisation to sustain and grow new jobs in NSW."