New Research Hubs and Training Centres to focus on critical innovations for industry

2 August 2018

New Research Hubs and Training Centres to focus on critical innovations for industry

Important industry challenges will receive a research boost with new university-based Research Hubs and Training Centres set to receive Australian Government support to focus on important innovations including: advancing artificial intelligence to improve farming efficiency; developing smart materials for safer and more durable road construction; and supporting the growth of the Australian native food industry.

Australian Research Council (ARC) CEO, Professor Sue Thomas, today welcomed the announcement by Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon. Simon Birmingham, of $46.9 million through the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Program (ITRP) to support four new ARC Research Hubs and seven new ARC Training Centres that will be led by Australian universities and involve significant collaboration with industry.

Professor Thomas said the funding will support research innovation in Australia that is targeted to areas that will make a difference to Australians, and lead to tangible outcomes and economic benefits.

“This $46.9 million for the 2018 round of ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hubs and Training Centres will encourage important research partnerships between university-based researchers and with industry to address ‘real-world’ challenges,” said Professor Thomas.

The four new ARC Research Hubs, worth $18.0 million under the Industrial Transformation Research Hubs scheme, are:

• ARC Research Hub for Integrated Energy Storage Solutions—led by Professor Zhao Yang Dong, The University of New South Wales
• ARC Research Hub for Driving Farming Productivity and Disease Prevention—led by Professor Yongsheng Gao, Griffith University
• ARC Research Hub for Medicinal Agriculture—led by Professor Tony Bacic, La Trobe University
• ARC Research Hub for Smart Next Generation Transport Pavements—led by Professor Jayantha Kodikara, Monash University.

The seven new ARC Training Centres, worth $28.9 million under the Industrial Transformation Training Centres scheme, are:

• ARC Training Centre for Multiscale 3D Imaging, Modelling and Manufacturing—led by Professor Mark Knackstedt, The Australian National University
• ARC Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods—led by Associate Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa, The University of Queensland
• ARC Training Centre for Future Energy Storage Technologies—led by Professor Maria Forsyth, Deakin University
• ARC Training Centre for the Development of Tools for Fragment Based Design—led by Associate Professor Martin Scanlon, Monash University
• ARC Training Centre in Surface Engineering for Advanced Materials—led by Professor Christopher Berndt, Swinburne University of Technology
• ARC Training Centre for Medical Implant Technologies—led by Professor Peter Lee, The University of Melbourne
• ARC Training Centre for Transforming Maintenance through Data Science—led by Professor Andrew Rohl, Curtin University.

The new ARC Research Hubs and Training Centres, in addition to $46.9 million in Australian Government funding, will receive co-funding of $64.4 million from Partner Organisations, which represents $1.37 investment for every Australian Government dollar.

To be eligible for funding under the ITRP, proposals needed to address one or more of the Industrial Transformation Priority areas: advanced manufacturing; cybersecurity; food and agribusiness; oil, gas and energy resources; mining equipment, technology and services; and medical technologies and pharmaceuticals.

More details about the ITRP and the new ARC Research Hubs and Training Centres is available on the ARC website.

 

Media contact: 
ARC Stakeholder Relations
0412 623 056 or communications@arc.gov.au