Assuro and Curtin University’s Industry Exchange are excited to share the huge success of their partnership over the last two years, which has cumulated in the formation of Assuro Digital Services (ADS).
Assuro first reached out to Curtin University in 2022 and in the same year, won the Faculty of Business and Law Award at Curtin University’s annual Curtinnovation Awards. Over the last two years, Assuro has hosted two consecutive internships through the Curtin Industry Exchange Summer Internship Program. The Summer program has Curtin student interns work full-time for 3 months, delivering impactful solutions to a real challenge facing their industry partners. These students are supported by Curtin’s wide network of talented academics and subject matter experts.
José Roberto Loureiro, a PhD (Economics) student, secured an internship with Assuro during the Summer of 2022-23. During his internship, José conducted research into how the company could bring an established technology into the Australasian market that could digitalise financial instruments like Bank Guarantees and Surety Bonds. This had never been successfully done before and the entire industry desperately needed a solution. José’s research findings led Assuro to partner with Digital Vault Services in August 2023, bringing the Guarantee Vault Platform (GVP), originally based in Germany, into the region by establishing Assuro Digital Services (ADS). ADS is now the leading provider in the market since going live with GVP in Australia. The business is in scale-up mode with an exciting pipeline of banks and corporates ready to launch. From a humble $12k investment into Curtin’s Industry Exchange internship program, ADS is now an established technology company fundamentally changing how an entire industry operates.
Richard Wong, CEO of Assuro Digital Services, reflected on the growth of ADS and José’s role in its success;
"Assuro Digital Services (ADS) is an industry leading, Australian technology business that was founded through the work José completed as part of Curtin University’s Industry Exchange Program.
"One of the most exciting outcomes for our business is being able to see the impact we have on the Australian economy where our innovative technology will fundamentally change how an entire industry works.
"By transforming an archaic, paper-based product to digital, we are saving businesses over a million hours of processing time, we are reducing the carbon footprint by taking over 5 million pieces of paper out of the transaction, and we are enabling a host of innovative, digital capabilities that was previously impossible. José’s work has been critical to the success of our business and the impact we have across the economy."
Felix Chan, the Head of Curtin’s School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, as well as José’s academic supervisor during this internship, expressed how this partnership demonstrates the direct benefits of aligning research with industry challenges;
"This project with Assuro is a remarkable example of how Industry Exchange’s internship programs can create genuine impact for our industry partners.
"It is also a testament to the high-quality expertise and valuable fresh perspectives Curtin research students bring to industry. Integrating talented PhD students like José into industry not only enriches their university experience, but also contribute to the growth of innovative companies like Assuro."
Following this internship, José was offered a second internship, during which his research findings on how AI could be utilised to address numerous challenges within Assuro was implemented company wide. José has since completed his PhD in Economics, and was appointed the coveted role of Teaching Academic Lecturer at Curtin University within the Faculty of Business and Law. José credits the work he completed with Assuro through Industry Exchange as a “pivotal experience for [his] professional development.”
Looking ahead, the partnership between Assuro and Industry Exchange, and now with ADS, is increasingly strong. As Assuro begins their third consecutive internship through Industry Exchange’s Summer Program, Richard Wong states;
“We are very excited to continue working with Curtin University’s Industry Exchange program to see what other innovations we can bring to the Australian market. What makes this relationship so special for us is being able to support students getting direct industry exposure whilst creating tangible outcomes with broad impacts across the entire economy. It is a fantastic program that will be an integral part of our business growth strategy.”
About Curtin Industry Exchange
Curtin Industry Exchange connects industry partners to Curtin’s rich network of student talent and academia through various year-round internship programs. Utilising a project-based model, Industry Exchange’s internship programs deliver value and high impact solutions to challenges facing industry partners across all sectors.
https://www.curtin.edu.au/engage/partnerships/industry-exchange/
About Assuro
Assuro is a multi-award-winning Australian fintech company that owns and operates a digital platform specialising in the distribution, origination and management of bank guarantees. Assuro is dedicated to helping businesses thrive by providing a suite of products that simplify bank guarantees and save their clients time and money.
About Assuro Digital Services
Assuro Digital Services is a 100% Australian owned and operated technology company specialising in the digitalisation and safekeeping of financial instruments such as Bank Guarantees and Surety Bonds. Part of the Assuro Group, the company is the exclusive distributor of the Guarantee Vault Platform in Australia and New Zealand.
