Collaboration is the cornerstone of sustainable innovation. At the recent ‘Smart Shepparton’ roundtable - facilitated by La Trobe University - local industry leaders, government representatives, and university researchers came together to explore opportunities for regional growth. The discussion focused on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Energy and Advanced Manufacturing can act as a powerful catalyst for driving development across the Shepparton region.
Shepparton as a hub for data-informed decisions
Shepparton’s strong business community provides a solid foundation for innovation. Connecting representatives from across sectors from waste management and water, to health and electrical services, the roundtable created a forum to explore practical, scalable solutions.
Integrating advanced analytics and AI into local industries presents enormous opportunities, but success depends on more than technology alone. It requires a skilled workforce and strategic collaboration. La Trobe University is well positioned to support this transition through education, training, and direct engagement with researchers.
With clear focus, sustained investment, and effective partnerships, Shepparton is an exemplar of how regional communities can drive growth through innovation.
Leveraging university resources for real-world challenges
Access to analytics teams and student placements allows local businesses to bypass traditional barriers to entry for high-tech adoption. These resources help create cost-effective solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing systems, rather than requiring expensive overhauls.
By utilising the expertise available through La Trobe initiatives such as the Centre for Data Analytics and Cognition and the La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food, local enterprises can access world-class research and know-how and have it applied to their specific operational contexts.
The roundtable highlighted several critical areas shaping the future of energy and industry. These are the conversations the sector is having - and where La Trobe University can add real value:
- Energy Data Sharing for Smarter DecisionsIndustry leaders agree that better cross-sector energy data sharing is essential. The challenge is balancing privacy with actionable insights that inform infrastructure planning and enable smarter, faster decision-making
- Leveraging La Trobe’s Research Strengths There is strong interest in tapping into La Trobe University’s expertise to deliver sector-specific energy insights, analyse consumption patterns, and support grid investment and regional energy policy advocacy. Our capabilities in data analytics, cognition, and energy AI can help industry move forward
- Empowering End-Users with AI and Analytics Industrial operators need advanced tools to forecast energy brown-outs and manage risks from outages. Access to AI-driven analytics will be key to optimising energy consumption at scale and ensuring resilience.
La Trobe is ready to partner with industry to turn these priorities into action.
Building a future of collaborative solutions
The ‘Smart Shepparton’ roundtable highlighted a strong commitment from industry and academia to collaborate on smart solutions that enable regional businesses to thrive.
Thank you to the organisations that contributed their expertise and insights to this important dialogue.
For those interested in discovering more about industry and researcher partnership opportunities, email industry.engagement@latrobe.edu.au or visit La Trobe Industry.
