IMCRC-catalysed investment in Australian advanced manufacturing research tops $200m

IMCRC has successfully catalysed more than $200 million investment in collaborative research and development (R&D) projects across Australia, with a unique CRC business model that enables industry-led collaborative research to push boundaries and deliver commercial outcomes.

The $200 million investment, leveraging cash and other contributions from industry, research organisations, and the Federal and State Governments, has financed more than 40 transformative and industry-led projects that will help increase the global competitiveness of the Australian manufacturing industry and incentivise others to similarly invest.

Of the 40 projects commenced, six projects have been completed so far, allowing the businesses to evolve and strengthen their positions in their markets:

• SPEE3D “Machine vision for Industry 4.0 high-speed 3D printing” as well as the follow-on project “Automated part repair using 3D scanning and supersonic 3D deposition”
• SuperCool “Smart electric compressor for refrigeration and air conditioning on electric vehicles”
• BluGlass “High performance normally OFF GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMT)”
• RUAG Australia “Application of additive metal technology to operational aircraft”
• Mineral Technologies “Revolutionising Mineral Separation using Additive Manufacturing”

IMCRC also acted as a catalyst for broader sector spin out investments including the $18m Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub in Brisbane, QLD, which was born out of the IMCRC co-funded Design Robotics project between Urban Art Projects (UAP), Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and RMIT University, and the $10m Line Zero – Factory of the Future manufacturing accelerator at Tonsley, SA, through the research collaboration between BAE Systems Australia ASC Shipbuilding, Flinders University and IMCRC.