Research And Development

By Dr Jason Coonan, Chief Operating Officer at the Innovative Manufacturing CRC By now we are all acutely aware of the impact that COVID-19 has had on our manufacturing industry, including our innovation pipeline. As we adapt to our “new normal”, kickstarting the industry’s recovery and innovation ecosystem is more important than ever before. Small … Continue reading Why short-term, high impact manufacturing R&D is important for fuelling Australia’s innovation ecosystem →

SEMMA (South East Melbourne Manufacturers’ Alliance) argued strongly in our Submission to the Senate Committee on COVID 19 Recovery in 2020 that the federal government should establish effective models for Industry – University collaboration to take innovation through to commercialisation, with production retained in Australia and outputs exported globally. In a global environment innovation is … Continue reading SEMMA and Swinburne partnership embraces innovation in the manufacturing state →

Adelaide satellite manufacturer Fleet Space Technologies has applied for a $5 Million federal government Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) grant, in addition to $4 million from the South Australian state government. The funding would enable the company to mass-produce 50 nanosatellites a year and increase staff to 128 in three years. CEO and co-founder Flavia Tata … Continue reading Adelaide satellite manufacturer seeks to grow capability with MMI funding →

The federal government is continuing to strengthen Australia’s defence capability by investing in the ideas and expertise of innovative Australian companies and research organisations. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said 10 new Defence Innovation Hub contracts demonstrated Australia’s capacity to drive the development of advanced technologies for Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel. “This latest … Continue reading $21 million Innovation Hub investment to drive advanced technologies →

An Australian-developed innovative intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system has been selected by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, to undergo a testing and development program. Melbourne-based Sentient Vision Systems (Sentient) has been awarded a contract to further test and develop the ViDAR (Visual Detection and Ranging) system that could see Australian capability integrated with the … Continue reading Australia’s Sentient ViDAR system secures contract for testing →

A new type of ultra-efficient, nano-thin material could advance self-powered electronics, wearable technologies and potentially deliver pacemakers powered by heart beats. The flexible and printable piezoelectric material, which can convert mechanical pressure into electrical energy, has been developed by an Australian research team led by RMIT University. It is 100,000 times thinner than a human hair and 800 per cent more efficient than other piezoelectrics based … Continue reading Nano-thin piezoelectrics advance self-powered electronics →

Caroline Tung finds out how the NSW government’s Innovation Districts Challenge is boosting commercialisation for products such as IoT-enabled technologies. The New South Wales state government’s first Innovation Districts Challenge is now underway and is designed to assist small-to-medium-sized businesses accelerate the commercialisation of products to counter the disruptions caused by COVID-19. Eleven universities across … Continue reading Helping innovative small businesses fast-track commercialisation →

Western Sydney advanced manufacturer, Romar Engineering, has signed a Letter of Intent with the New South Wales state government to play a role in the Aerotropolis’ Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility (AMRF). Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres, said Romar Engineering will add to the Western Parkland City’s aerospace, defence and medical … Continue reading Local manufacturer to help design Aerotropolis manufacturing research facility →

Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) has launched its new funding initiative, IMCRC activate, with an Australian first — the development of a rapid COVID-19 test that uses optical technology. Designed to provide a much-needed stimulus to Australian manufacturing businesses in the wake of COVID-19, IMCRC activate stimulates and fast-tracks R&D investment, offering access to … Continue reading IMCRC launches first approved project for rapid COVID-19 test →

An invention similar to an elephant’s trunk has potential benefits for many industries where handling delicate objects is essential, say researchers from the University of New South Wales’a Medical Robotic Lab. Nature has inspired engineers at UNSW Sydney to develop a soft fabric robotic gripper, which behaves like an elephant’s trunk to grasp, pick up … Continue reading UNSW research team seeks industry partner for new device →

Tyre Stewardship Australia is investing $6 million to fund manufacturing-focused projects. CEO Lina Goodman and Flexiroc CEO Gary Bullock speak with Manufacturers’ Monthly about recycling old tyres for use in the manufacturing sector. Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) plays a leading role in bringing together government, industry, manufacturers, researchers and recyclers in partnerships to improve market … Continue reading Innovation solutions for end-of-life tyres →

Strategic Elements subsidiary Australian Advanced Materials (AAM) will develop a self-charging battery technology through a collaboration with the University of New South Wales and CSIRO. The battery cells create electricity from humidity in the air or skin surface to self-charge themselves within minutes. No manual charging or wired power is required. They are created with … Continue reading Australian Advanced Materials to create self-charging batteries →

New opportunities will become available for businesses and professionals involved in research and development, advanced materials manufacturing and renewable energy technology following the launch of the Exciton Science Connect Program. An initiative of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, the Connect Program will increase collaboration, knowledge exchange, capacity building and idea generation between the research … Continue reading New ARC initiative to support Australian industry collaborations →

Researchers from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, have made it possible to 3D print tailor-made stents, a critical biomedical device used to treat narrow or blocked arteries. The breakthrough, made possible through a partnership with Wollongong-based Medical Innovation Hub, was described as “a paradigm shift” in the production of self-expanding nitinol stents for Peripheral Arterial … Continue reading World first in 3D printed tailor-made stents →

The Australian Government is continuing vital support to Australia’s aviation industry, a key part of the nation’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said a range of initiatives currently supporting the aviation sector would be extended, as part of more than $1.2 … Continue reading Gov support continues for Australia’s aviation industry →

Last week, it was announced that a five-year, $5 million initiative to develop and sustain Electronic Warfare (EW) related skills in the defence sector is being established at Flinders University, enhancing South Australia as a Centre of Expertise in EW. The partnership between Defence and Flinders University will result in the establishment of a chair … Continue reading $5m national Electronic Warfare centre →

Researchers at Swinburne University are using “atomaterials” to create new functionalities, which they believe will change everyday products. “Atomaterials” is a term coined by Professor Baohua Jia, a nanotechnology expert and director of Swinburne’s new Centre for Translational Atomaterials. “It’s a synthesised word from ‘atomic materials’ which are the next generation of nanomaterials,” Professor Jia said. Nanomaterials enable small, fast and powerful … Continue reading Swinburne scientists investigating potential of “atomaterials” →

Getting the mix right between industry and academia can be tricky, but one collaboration between dental manufacturer SDI and UNSW proves it is by no means impossible. Connor Pearce reports. Partnerships between industry and researchers can often be seen as the holy grail of product development. Combining the minds of academics with the directed knowledge … Continue reading Taking two bites of the research pie →

The Australian hearing implant producer Cochlear has signed an agreement with GN Hearing, the Danish hearing-aid manufacturer, to expand their joint research and development program and commercial collaboration. The collaboration between Cochlear and GN Hearing, called the Smart Hearing Alliance, was first established in 2015. The signing of the new agreement will see the two … Continue reading Cochlear expands collaboration with Danish company GN Hearing →

Strategic Elements, an Australian company developing printable nanotechnology, has received additional financial support from the federal government to supports its ongoing joint research and development program with the CSIRO. The Nanocube Memory Ink is an advanced nanotechnology material that can be printed or coated onto non-silicon transparent or flexible surfaces, such as glass or plastic, … Continue reading Strategic Elements receives funding for liquid printable memory project →