Co-lab to boost situational awareness

Artificial intelligence, machine learning and edge computers are the key focus areas of an Innovation Hub and CoLab established at Lot Fourteen to advance technologies for situational awareness.It has been set up by global technology company Codan in partnership with local innovation firm, 11point2.

Codan was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in South Australia. It develops technology to solve communications, safety, security and productivity problems in the harshest environments on earth. Codan’s customers include the world’s largest aid and humanitarian organisations, security and military groups, mining companies and governments.

Codan Chief Technology Officer Rory Linehan said the CoLab would focus on technology applications for situational awareness and leverage non-GPS based tracking and location.

“Key areas of research will include computer vision, radio frequency location techniques, machine learning and data fusion algorithms,” he said.

Started by deeply experienced entrepreneurs, 11point2 has established a Collaborative Entrepreneurial Innovation capability designed to help industry, government, entrepreneurs, universities, and investors properly understand problems and validate ideas to solve those problems.

“The CoLab will enable us to access an extensive global network of entrepreneurs, tech start-ups and world-class research centres,” Mr Linehan said.

11point2 Managing Partner Mark Ogden said the CoLab at Lot Fourteen was critical to delivering successful collaborative entrepreneurial innovation for Codan.

“The Stone & Chalk startup hub at Lot Fourteen is an important part of the 11point2 network providing national connectivity with entrepreneurs whose start-ups may have technology that aligns with our customer’s problems,” he said.

“When you include other organisations at Lot Fourteen such as MIT Bigdata Living Lab, the power of collaboration within the precinct to help solve complex problems is unique.”

Codan has a global footprint with offices in Canada, the USA, Ireland, the UAE and Brazil and its products are sold in more than 150 countries.