The recent closure of the Mitsubishi car plant in Adelaide, which followed the closure of its nearby engine plant a few years ago, has been seen by some observers as a commercial setback, but this time greatly softened by a more buoyant state economy.rnWhile traditional industry can contract, new ones start up. Although new enterprises often employ far fewer people, some of them are doing very exciting things and providing opportunities to entrepreneurs and engineers willing to take on new challenges.rnFor example Sydac Pty Ltd, based in the heart of Adelaide and with a workforce of 100, is a world leader in simulation systems, the firm having been set up about 20 years ago by former researchers with an entrepreneurial flair from the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO). Sydac's CEO Adrian Smith (who was South Australian Professional Engineer of the Year in 2005) told Engineers Australia that its simulation, dynamic modelling and interactive training systems for defence now account for only about 40% of sales, civilian applications make up the other 60%, a big proportion of this being exports to the US and Europe.
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