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A Message From Bruce Grey
It has been a productive start to the year with the AMCRC moving forward on a range of initiatives with an exciting period coming up to the end of the financial year.
In February the annual strategy planning session was held, with the board, management team and several focused presenters in attendance. The areas of renewable energy, carbon abatement and medical technology/diagnostics were highlighted for future growth. We expect these areas to provide substantial opportunity while maintaining a focus on existing program themes. In line with the future growth areas 17 responses to our call for expressions of interest in “Renewable Energy” were received with a number proceeding towards finalisation and project commencement. Requests for project proposals in “Diagnostics/Medical Devices” have been issued and close on the 16 May. Also a request for new projects in existing program themes of “Advanced Materials, Next Generation Processes and Knowledge Based Manufacturing” closing on 6 June. If you have a
proposed project in any of these areas please complete a preliminary project proposal and return to the AMCRC.
The AMCRC has streamlined the project engagement process including online reporting.
I look forward to an exciting quarter with the commencement of “Innovativity”, the AMCRC’s Innovation Management Training Program, our inaugural PhD conference, featuring Dr Karl, both being held in June, coupled with the commencement of a number of new projects as a result of the request for project applications. |
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big challenges in Manufacturing |
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Australia’s manufacturing industry is now at the cross roads. It faces four big challenges: the high exchange rate, the planned introduction of a carbon price, the impact of new science and technology developments and global competition for high value manufacturing jobs.
Manufacturing has also changed. Prior to 2000, it was just about the production of goods. Today, it is about ideas, products, processes and services with a complex and highly integrated value chain underpinned by ground breaking science and technology breakthroughs, innovation, skills, design, system engineering, supply chain excellence, intelligent services as well as energy efficient, sustainable and low carbon developments.
Policymakers say Australia’s relative affluence no longer rides on the sheep’s back – it’s in a consignment of iron ore headed for China. For them, it’s an either-or scenario – they believe such good fortune must come at the expense of manufacturing. Someone should remind them that reducing a country’s economic base is dangerous. In the 1990s, England embraced financial services while its manufacturing sector declined. Look at it now.
A change in policy and focus is essential if the manufacturing sector is to meet the new challenges and reclaim its role in the Australian economy.
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A successful partnership:
MBD Energy +
James Cook University |
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The project between MBD Energy, a Melbourne based company focused on adoption of safe, commercially and environmentally sustainable carbon capture and recycling, and James Cook University is an exciting development that could transform the energy and agricultural industries.
The project focuses on using microalgae for carbon capture. Microalgae are unicellular photosynthetic organisms that feed off sunlight and carbon dioxide and convert them to sugars, oil and protein. Microalgae are responsible for the earth’s oil reserves and the James Cook University – MBD project seeks to speed up the work of Mother Nature.
The project seeks to remediate the carbon dioxide and nitric oxide from the flue gases produced at coal fired power stations. The oils would be extracted and used for biofuel production or biodegradable plastics. Alternatively, they could be used to produce nutracuticals such as Omega 3 fatty acids and other health products.
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PhD work of “Dori”
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The PhD work of Adoracion Pegalajar Jurado (“Dori”) at Swinburne University of Technology focuses on the interaction of nanostructure polymers with bacteria and proteins. With the support of the AMCRC, her study is a ground-breaking examination of solutions to problems with bacteria that costs industries billions of dollars every year.
Many industries have problems with biofilm formation where bacteria attaches itself to a surface and proliferate. The bacteria form a biofilm for “self-protection”. With the food industry, for example, it produces higher environmental and financial costs for cleaning equipment. Biofilm of just a few hundred microns on a boat surface results in 20% higher fuel costs. With dental implants, it increases the chances of infection.
Dori’s study seeks to control the level of bacteria attachment, or even get it to a level where there is no attachment at all, creating a solution for a key problem.
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Innovation Management Training Program
for Australian Manufacturers
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Understanding and applying innovation is a critical success driver in today's manufacturing environment. Innovativity is a comprehensive innovation management training program delivered by leading innovation experts from Australian industry and research. This hands-on training program is designed to help manufacturing start-ups through to large organisations more effectively manage the innovation process and achieve greater commercial success.
The inaugural launch of the 4 day Innovativity program will take place in Melbourne during June 2011 and will be exclusively offered to the Advanced Manufacturing CRC industry participants. It will cover the complete spectrum of innovation management which include areas such as:
- Idea Management
- IP Strategies
- Product Design
- Business Strategies
- Resourcing
- Exit Strategies
The AMCRC team hope that all its industry participants take the opportunity to participate in this comprehensive innovation management training program.
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Call for preliminary project proposals:
Medical Devices & Diagnostics |
The Advanced Manufacturing CRC (AMCRC) is currently seeking applications on a competitive basis to co-fund high quality proposals from industries (small, medium and large enterprises) and research providers from anywhere in Australia in the area of:
Medical Devices and Diagnostics
The call for preliminary project proposals has the primary focus,
but is not limited to, the following areas:
- Advanced manufacturing of Medical devices,
medical components
- Diagnostic Tools and Industrial Biotechnology
- Biomaterials, Microfluidics and Nanofabrication
CALL FOR PRELIMINARY PROJECT PROPOSALS: research proGRAMS
The Advanced Manufacturing CRC (AMCRC) is currently seeking applications on a competitive basis to co-fund high quality proposals from industries (small, medium and large enterprises) and research providers from anywhere in Australia in the following AMCRC research program areas:
- PROGRAM 1: ADVANCED MATERIALS
- PROGRAM 2: NEXT GENERATION PROCESSES
- PROGRAM 3: KNOWLEDGE BASED MANUFACTURING
The call for Preliminary Project Proposals has a focus on the above research areas. More detailed information and descriptions of the programs can be found on the AMCRC website, which applicants are strongly recommended to peruse the AMCRC website:
www.amcrc.com.au
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PACIFIC ADDITIVE
MANUFACTURING FORUM
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Announcing the 1st Pacific Additive Manufacturing Forum.
Additive Manufacture (AM), also referred to as 3D printing, is now playing an ever increasing role in a range of industries such as the aerospace, automotive, medical and defence because of the many benefits it offers compared to traditional subtractive technologies.
The 1st Pacific Additive Manufacturing Forum (PAMF) aims to bring together industry professionals, engineers, researchers, and equipment and material suppliers to hear the latest developments and trends in Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology from international speakers and local industry players.
The one-day Forum in Melbourne will serve as the opening for half day presentations in Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane organised in partnership with the Defence Materials Technology Centre.
Registrations and information: www.pamf.org.au
- Melbourne – 7 June
- Adelaide – 9 June
- Sydney – 14 June
- Brisbane – 15 June
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Social Album: Innovation Australia Showcase, MCG 30 March 2011 |
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