Media Release
May 27, 2005
State Government backs UniSA with $15.2 million for industry centred research
The State Government has acknowledged the enormous potential of university and industry research collaboration by investing more than $15 million in projects based at UniSA that will build capacity and economic growth in South Australia.
UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor Denise Bradley AO says the Government is supporting strategically important research that targets high growth areas for the State.
“The Government’s approach is visionary because it is investing in areas where we are strong and innovative and in industries that promise long term economic growth for South Australia,” Professor Bradley said.
SA excellence in manufacturing technologies research will be supported with $8 million over the next four years to establish the Mawson Institute for Advanced Manufacturing at UniSA’s Mawson Lakes campus. The funding will help to build on the high level research being undertaken at UniSA’s Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and capitalise on existing research partnerships through the national Cooperative Research Centre for Automotive Technologies, with the CSIRO’s Division of Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technologies, and UniSA’s internationally renowned research facility, the Ian Wark Research Institute and its Advanced Computing Research Centre.
The new Institute will work closely with industry to develop innovative technologies that will support manufacturing, and the automotive and defence industries.
A further $4.7 million will be invested to establish the Centre for Excellence in Defence Industry Systems Capability which will develop systems integration skills in communications, simulation and software engineering. UniSA’s Systems Engineering and Evaluation Centre will be a lead player in the Centre which will be based at Mawson Lakes.
UniSA’s Ian Wark Research Institute has won $2.5 million this year to provide infrastructure and facilities to establish the Australian Mineral Science Research Institute. This Institute, led by Professor John Ralston, will conduct research into major technical challenges facing the global mining industry over the next 25 years.
The Institute will focus on interdisciplinary research in particle science and engineering and involves significant industry partners including global mining heavyweights BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto Ltd, WMC Resources Ltd and Anglo Platinum Ltd, all of whom have already committed $7.5 million to the Institute through AMIRA International, an international mining industry association that brokers collaborative research projects sponsored by its members.
Professor Bradley said it had been rewarding to work with the State Government and industry to build the important alliances that underpin the foundation of these exciting research institutes and research concentrations in SA.
“I am delighted with the conviction and collaboration I have encountered in all discussions over these developments,” she said. “It illustrates that SA has enormous intellectual talent supported by an environment of cooperation that will ensure growth well into the future.”
More information
-
Anne-Marie Parsons office (08) 8302 0650 email anne-marie.parsons@unisa.edu.au
Media contact
-
Michèle Nardelli office (08) 8302 0966 mobile 0418 823 673 email michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au