The launch of a new Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) will play a key role in the transformation of Australia’s manufacturing industry.
The IMCRC will collaborate with manufacturing businesses, research organisations, industry associations and government, investing significantly in partnerships that support innovation.
It’s main aim is to ensure Australian industry can meet the challenges and opportunities of the global economy.
Speaking at the launch of the IMCRC in Melbourne yesterday, the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Senator Arthur Sinodinos, said the IMCRC is a significant step forward in assisting the transformation of the Australian manufacturing industry.
“Manufacturing is an essential part of Australia’s knowledge economy and innovation ecosystem, our manufacturers need to capitalise on today’s emerging opportunities for our economy to remain strong in the future,” he said.
“By building extensive industry networks, collaborating with the various Growth Centres, and directly engaging with manufacturers, the IMCRC will provide a focal point for innovative manufacturing businesses.”
Embracing digital technologies
IMCRC Managing Director and CEO David Chuter said: “There has never been a greater need for businesses across all sectors to develop innovative business models, embrace digital technologies, and, with strong leadership, find new ways to create commercial value.
“Our mission is to catalyse the transformation of Australia’s manufacturing industry through collaborative investment, research impact and innovation to deliver commercial outcomes.
“Through our industrial transformation program we will inform, support and assist small to medium sized manufacturing businesses to make the investment decisions needed to access new markets through new models and global supply chains.”
To date, three IMCRC industry participants have successfully executed formal project agreements for university-aligned projects, having met the required criteria for outcome-based research. Several more are close to finalising similar agreements.
Key partnerships
Adelaide-based Jumbo Vision International Pty Ltd (JVI) is partnering with the University of South Australia on a five-year, $6 million research project (inclusive of an IMCRC cash grant of $1,050,000) to develop realistic and affordable visualisation design interfaces and services between industry, SMEs and end clients to provide a competitive edge for Australian manufacturers.
Melbourne-based start-up SPEE3D is partnering with the University of Technology Sydney on a three-year, $1.1 million research project (inclusive of an IMCRC grant of $350,000) that advances and fully automates SPEE3D’s current 3D metal printer, making it faster, cheaper and viable for large-scale manufacturing.
Urban Arts Project Australia (UAP) is partnering with QUT and RMIT University on a five-year, $8 million research project (inclusive of an IMCRC grant of $1.5 million) to use innovative robotic vision systems and software user-interfaces to reduce the integration time between design and custom manufacturing.
As a leading voice for the transformation of Australia’s manufacturing industry and best practice, the IMCRC is working in close collaboration with aligned industry bodies and innovation-focused organisations, including the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, Ai Group, prefabAUS, CSIRO and with Germany’s Fraunhofer Institutes.
To be chaired by former Industry Minister, Ian Macfarlane, the IMCRC is a not-for-profit, independent cooperative research centre. In collaboration with manufacturing businesses, research organisations, industry associations, and government, the IMCRC co-funds broad, multidisciplinary and industry-led research projects that deliver commercial outcomes.
