New Fibres Research and Innovation Centre launched

Based at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds Campus, the Centre was established through a joint application from CSIRO, the Victorian Centre for Advanced Materials Manufacturing (VCAMM) and Deakin University to the Federal Government’s Education Investment Fund.

The $102 million facility includes funding from Deakin University, CSIRO, VCAMM and $37 million through the EIF.

“With over 300 researchers and students based at the centre will be the largest carbon fibre research centre in the nation and will be one of the top centres in the world,” CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Megan Clark said.

“The Centre will ensure a world-class fibre and manufacturing capability is established in Geelong with the resources to significantly improve the competitiveness of the textile and materials manufacturing sector, and the advanced composites and bio-medical industries.

“It will develop new advanced materials which will ensure the industry can produce world-class knowledge-based products based on nanofibres, carbon fibres and smart functional materials.

“Research at the Centre will aim to generate, for example: advanced composites capable of producing high-temperature, high-strength materials; new materials for medical applications like tissue engineering scaffolds; environmental applications such as toxic chemical and heavy metal removal technologies; and, advanced body-armour materials designed to protect Australian soldiers.”

Around 90 staff currently working in Geelong at CSIRO Material Science & Engineering’s Belmont site will be re-located to the Waurn Ponds campus.