NEW ARC RESEARCH TRAINING CENTRE TO TRANSFORM NAVAL MANUFACTURING

Australian Research Council (ARC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Professor Aidan Byrne, has today welcomed the opening of a new research training centre dedicated to developing better engineering designs and solutions for Australia’s growing naval manufacturing industry.

The ARC Training Centre for Transforming Australia’s Naval Manufacturing Industry, was officially opened today—the centre is based at the University of Tasmania’s Australian Maritime College in Launceston.

The training centre has been awarded almost $2.4 million over three years from the ARC through the Industrial Transformation Research Program.

Led by The University of Tasmania, the Centre will also combine the expertise of six leading defence materials organisations and two other collaborating universities.

Professor Byrne said the training centre would foster innovation in the design and manufacture of new naval platforms—including submarines, frigates and patrol boats— through strong collaboration between researchers and industry.

“The ARC’s funding has been matched, through cash and in-kind contributions, from the collaborating organisations,” Professor Byrne said.

Representing the ARC at the official opening today, Executive Director Professor Brian Yates said the training centre will also provide the opportunity for a number of young researchers to complete placements within industry, enriching their research experience and providing them with an insight from the end-user perspective.

“This particular funding scheme plays an important role in the research landscape building strong connections between research and industry,” Professor Yates said.

The aim of the Industrial Transformation Research Program is to encourage cutting-edge R&D projects that can help solve the big problems facing our industries today; to attract investment from the global and international business community by underpinning internationally-recognised excellence of Australian universities and their industry partners; and to leverage private and international investment in targeted industry sectors.