UOW’s key role in new defence research centre
21 Dec 2007 | Bernie Goldie
The University of Wollongong will play a major role in a new $80 million centre designed to give Australian industry a leading edge in winning national and international defence contracts.
UOW researchers will be working on developing new materials for land, sea and air defence platforms ranging from light armoured vehicles to ships and planes as part of the the Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC).
Minister for Defence Science and Personnel Warren Snowdon and Minister for Innovation, Industry, Research and Science Senator Kim Carr have announced the creation of the new centre.
The DMTC is a partnership between industry, universities, government research agencies and Federal and State Governments. Other university participants are Swinburne University of Technology, the University of Melbourne and RMIT University in Melbourne and the University of Queensland along with the Defence Science Technology Organisation and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.
UOW is the only NSW university participating in the new centre.
UOW Dean of Engineering Professor Chris Cook described the University’s participation as “a huge vote of confidence in materials and automotion engineering at UOW”.
Mr Snowdon said the DMTC would receive $30 million in Federal Government funding over the next seven years, with the remaining funding coming from collaborative partners.
“Significant outcomes to be delivered include improved armour protection for military personnel carriers and new high-tech materials for use in major defence acquisitions such as the Joint Strike Fighter,” he said.
There are six industry core participants – BAE Systems Australia Ltd, GKN Aerospace Engineering Services Pty Ltd, BlueScope Steel Limited, Surface Technology Coatings, Thales Australia Holdings Pty Ltd and CRC-ACS Limited – and 16 supporting participants.
Professor Cook said UOW’s expertise in materials engineering and its close research ties with BlueScope Steel had been important in the University’s inclusion in the new centre.
“Our researchers will be developing new materials for defence purposes, as well as working on new automotion and fabrication techniques,” Professor Cook said. “We’ll be working on steel research for a range of defence purposes ranging from armoured vehicles to ships, and also working with light materials like titanium for the future Joint Strike fighter jets.
“This is great news for the University and reflects the multidisciplinary skills that we have in the Faculty of Engineering.”
For further information contact Professor John Norrish on (02) 4221 3358 or email john_norrish@uow.edu.au
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