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An artists impression of the new Australian Institute for Innovative ... |
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This image shows the placement of the new building in relation to IC ... |
Regional jobs boon as Budget delivers new ‘Australian-first’ facility for UOW
Last night’s Federal Budget delivered a win-win for the University of Wollongong (UOW) and the region with at least 200 construction jobs created for the initial phase to build the $50 million “Australian Institute for Innovative Materials (AIIM) -- Processing and Devices” Facility.
The new building will be developed alongside the existing Australian Institute for Innovative Materials (AIIM Building) at UOW’s Innovation Campus and when developed will house 150 staff and students. Building is expected to start before the end of this year and be completed by the end of 2010.
“It’s a fantastic result for all concerned which will see UOW extend its world-class research capabilities,” Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton said.
Professor Sutton paid special tribute to the Member for Cunningham, Ms Sharon Bird, and the Member for Throsby, Ms Jennie George, for their assistance in UOW’s overall submission.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Judy Raper said there were currently no facilities available in Australia to produce multifunctional materials at the scale and quantity required to bridge that “valley of death” to commercialisation.
“Australia now has the opportunity to transform multifunctional materials research and be the world leader in this research and also in its commercialisation,” she said.
Multifunctional materials (such as electromaterials that generate and/or transfer electric charge -- an area where UOW is a recognised international leader -- have the potential to solve many of the world’s health and technology problems.
However, many such advanced multifunctional materials cannot be processed using conventional methods.
Professor Raper said the challenge now for UOW was to take these materials from fundamental research, through the proof of concept stage and into real world applications, novel fabrication, processing and to develop manufacturing methods.
“Currently, no university in Australia (or internationally to our knowledge) is making this link and industry is typically reluctant to invest in further development or application until there is demonstrated proof-of-concept with clearly defined and cost effective materials processing and device fabrication,” Professor Raper said.
UOW is an internationally recognised leader in electromaterials research. UOW hosts the ARC Centre of Excellence in Electromaterials Science (ACES) and is home to the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials (AIIM), comprising the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI) and the Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials (ISEM) based at UOW’s Innovation Campus.
For further information contact Professor Judy Raper on (02) 4221 3915.