SYDNEY, Australia – 28 May 2025 – OMRON and Western Sydney University have signed a Stage 2 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), expanding their partnership to accelerate innovation in advanced manufacturing, and develop future-ready STEM talent across the Asia Pacific.
This milestone builds on the success of Stage 1 and marks OMRON’s first co-located Proof of Concept (PoC) Centre with a university partner. It also enabled the launch of Western Sydney University’s Factory of the Future and provided students with real-world experience in robotics, AI, and industrial automation through placements within OMRON and its broader ecosystem. The partnership is now scaling up to leverage the global networks, domain expertise, and R&D capabilities of both organisations.
“Stage 1 laid a strong foundation,” said Don Teng, Managing Director of OMRON Asia Pacific. “With Stage 2, we’re building on that momentum by exploring new opportunities across the Asia Pacific and worldwide— connecting global R&D, sharing engineering and domain expertise, and extending our knowledge to empower students, researchers, and industry partners.”
Western Sydney University Vice-Chancellor and President,
Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, added: “Western Sydney University is proud to strengthen our collaboration with OMRON to deliver education, innovation, and jobs to boost economic growth and drive productivity for the Western Sydney region and beyond. This partnership demonstrates the transformative power of universities and industry working hand in hand to shape the future through knowledge sharing, research and skills development.”
“In particular, this collaboration will ensure exceptional work-integrated learning opportunities for our students and generate a future pipeline of highly-skilled, industry-ready graduates for Australia’s robotics and advanced manufacturing sectors.”
Stage 2 Focus – A Scalable Model for Regional Collaboration and Global Innovation:
- Accelerating Innovation for Societal Needs – Driving solutions in agriculture, education, healthcare, food and beverage, and semiconductor manufacturing.
- Building Future Talent and Skills – Expanding internships, technical training, and co-designed courses to develop industry-ready graduates and upskilling the workforce.
- Deepening R&D and Regional Engagement – Advancing robotics, automation, and AI through shared platforms, fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and exploring co-location in Asia Pacific regions.
Together, OMRON and Western Sydney University are building a globally connected, future-focused innovation platform that delivers outcomes for students, customers, and society.
Learn more about the OMRON PoC Centre and Western Sydney University’s engineering programs: Visit omron.com.au/poc and www.westernsydney.edu.au/schools/soedbe
About Western Sydney University
Western Sydney University prides itself on challenging the traditional notion of what a university should be. We put students at the heart of everything we do. Embedded in the communities and region we serve, our University is fundamental to the economic, cultural and social life of Western Sydney – one of the fastest-growing, most economically important and most culturally-diverse regions within Australia. We have a network of sites and teaching campuses across Western Sydney and beyond. Western Sydney University has 50,000 students, 3,000 staff, and a strong cohort – both locally and globally – of more than 200,000 alumni. The University has been named number one in the world for its social, ecological and economic impact in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings three years in a row.
About OMRON Corporation
OMRON Corporation is a leading automation company with its core competencies in Sensing & Control + Think technology, and is engaged in a wide range of businesses including industrial automation, healthcare, social systems, device & module solutions. The company transcends the value creation by leveraging diverse data acquired through these businesses and linking it to the data solutions business. Established in 1933, OMRON has about 27000 employee worldwide, working to provide products and services in more than 130 countries, contributing to the creation of a better society.
For more information, please visit https://www.omron.com/global/en/.
About OMRON Automation in Oceania
OMRON is a global leader in automation, robotics, and smart manufacturing solutions, empowering businesses to solve societal challenges through innovation. With over 90 years of global expertise and 37 years of local presence in Australia and New Zealand, OMRON supports manufacturers in food & beverage, medical & pharmaceutical, logistics, agriculture, and education, delivering tailored automation solution to meet evolving business needs. For more information, please visit:
OMRON Automation and Robotics Australia
OMRON Automation and Robotics Australia Store
LinkedIn
Media Contact:
Brand Communications
Department OMRON Corporation
Tel: +81-75-344-7175
Group Photo Information
Left to Right Back Row: Henry Zhou, Managing Director of OMRON Automation and Robotics Oceania (OMRON), Distinguished Professor Brian G. Falzon ,Dean, School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Professor Ian Anderson, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise, Western Sydney University, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, Vice-Chancellor and President, Western Sydney University, Mark Allen, Western Sydney University Graduate in Bachelor of Engineering – Mechatronics and OMRON Senior Automation & Robotics Solutions Manager, Don Wright, Executive Director, Enterprise, Western Sydney University.
Middle Row: Anna Lin, Senior Manager, Partnerships and Precinct Activation, Enterprise, Western Sydney University, Masayuki Yamamoto, Executive Officer and Senior General Manager Global Solution Sales Division HQ of OMRON Industrial Automation Company, Professor Jennifer Westacott AO, Chancellor of Western Sydney University, Motohiro Yamanishi, Global President of OMRON Industrial Automation Company, Don Teng, Managing Director of OMRON Industrial Automation Asia Pacific, Luat Nguyen, Western Sydney University Graduate in Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and OMRON Business Development & Education Program Manager.
Front Row: Brett Hook, Western Sydney University Graduate Bachelor of Engineering (Robotics & Mechatronics) and OMRON Senior Application Engineer, Luke Stojkovoski, Western Sydney University Graduate in Bachelor of Engineering Science and OMRON Graduate Engineer, Luke Ellacott, Western Sydney University Graduate in Bachelor of Engineering (Robotics & Mechatronics) and OMRON Application Engineer, Isabel Rahme, Western Sydney University Student in Bachelor of Engineering (Robotics & Mechatronics) and OMRON Technical Sales Support
