The defence firm building frigates and nuclear-powered submarines in Adelaide in multi-billion dollar projects, BAE Systems Australia, will establish at head office at Lot Fourteen. About 500 workers will move to the North Tce site as a cornerstone tenant in the precinct’s Innovation Centre.

Premier Peter Malinauskas on Monday unveiled plans for a new Innovation Centre, with three state and federal government projects totalling $100m joining BAE. These include a $60m Australian Defence Technologies Academy, $20m Innovation Hub and $20m Space Assembly Integration and Testing facility. “BAE basing its headquarters at Lot Fourteen, alongside universities, the Defence Technologies Academy, Innovation Hub, space industry and other innovative businesses makes perfect sense. “Our innovation places are key to achieving our ambitions. It is about taking the lead to establish and nurture the right environments that foster collaboration and drive economic complexity, creating new, highly skilled jobs.”

BAE Systems Australia chief executive Craig Lockhart said the headquarters at Lot Fourteen would complement the company’s other SA operations at Osborne and Edinburgh Parks. “Over the next 12 months we expect to recruit 800 new employees across our operations, and Lot Fourteen is a key enabler to achieving our growth ambitions,” he said. “As we continue to grow in South Australia and find ways to enhance employee attraction and retention, it’s important we offer a workspace that inspires our teams, fosters creativity and creates spaces for our employees to thrive.”