R&D

The New South Wales government will deliver the single largest investment in scientific research, innovation and technological development in the state’s history, with a landmark $832.7 million boost over four years under the 2022-23 NSW Budget. 

QUT researchers are paving the way for the next generation of 3D printers, by using intersecting light beams to control chemical reactions in an advanced material that prints entire layers rather than single points at a time.

The NSW government has unveiled its NSW 20-Year R&D Roadmap for turning the state’s R&D capabilities into world-leading industries and jobs for future generations. 

The University of Southern Queensland has been named an Australian Trailblazer university to accelerate growth in space manufacturing and lead a new research hub of national priority. 

Vai Photonics – an Australian National University (ANU) spin-out company whose technology will help future moon landings and could lead to flying cars – has been bought out by a leading navigation firm in a deal worth $40 million. 

Australia’s economy could be $24 billion bigger over 10 years if investment in higher education research and development (R&D) was lifted by just one per cent, according to Universities Australia’s submission to the Productivity Commission. 

The University of Adelaide has been chosen as the second university to benefit from the federal government’s Trailblazer Universities Program, to deliver on their Concept to Sovereign Capability (CSC) bid. 

As part of the CSIRO’s Next Generation Graduates program, 165 university students will work on a range of challenges such as data-centric and machine-driven engineering, smart manufacturing and sensing, and enhancing industry operations through the metaverse. 

Curtin University has been named the first of Australia’s Trailblazer universities to receive a share of over $242 million in federal government funding, to develop a research commercialisation hub. 

The Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) has granted New Zealand-based biotechnology research company, Humble Bee Bio, and Deakin University $70,000 to develop a sustainable alternative to the harmful chemicals used in durable water repellent (DWR) textile coatings. 

Modern Manufacturing Town Hall, held on 30 March at Sydney Olympic Park, was a pivotal day for the NSW manufacturing sector as it marked the beginning of a strengthened partnership between government and industry in advancing manufacturing.  

The Australian defence contractor, Thales Australia, will collaborate with Deakin University and the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) to develop a lightweight composite overwrap for gun barrels. 

The federal government is investing $44 million to establish four Artificial Intelligence and Digital Capability Centres to drive the commercialisation of Australia’s leading AI research and promote it to new domestic and global markets.  

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg mapped out how the Federal Budget aims to grow a modern and resilient manufacturing industry in last night’s budget announcement.

The NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN) has welcomed Charles Sturt University as the newest member of its consortium of leading universities across NSW and the ACT. 

South Australian Labor leader, Peter Malinauskas, has pledged to invest $4 million into the Factory of the Future development at the Tonsley Innovation District. 

The Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) has released its Annual Highlights Report, highlighting that it has catalysed over $230 million in investment to date in manufacturing innovation and R&D across Australia. 

Australian manufacturers will now be able to bid for work in astronomy projects under the European Southern Observatory (ESO) Technology Development Program. 

QUT Centre for Robotics researchers are working on a new fundamental research project with automaker, Ford Motor Company, to develop improved localisation and perceptions techniques for autonomous vehicles. 

Japan’s largest auto retailer, IDOM Inc., will set up its global headquarters for a new technology-focused business in Melbourne, which will become the driver for research and development for the company.