Frontier training centre success

Deakin University is one of only 6 universities to have been awarded an Industrial Transformation Training Centre (ITTC) in the latest Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Programme rounds announced today by Senator the Honourable Simon Birmingham, Minister for Education and Training.  The University was awarded 100% of the amount requested of the ARC, a figure of $4,881,754.

Professor Peter Hodgson, Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, was delighted with the outcome and stated that the announcement demonstrated confidence in the University’s ability to deliver training that will broaden the career options of early career researchers and be of direct benefit to industry end-users. 

“The outcome is particularly exciting as it demonstrates that Australian manufacturers want to work in partnership with each other and Deakin University to creatively solve real world problems in order to position Australia for the challenges of the future.”

Industrial Transformation Training Centres are designed to foster close partnerships between university-based researchers and other research end-users to provide innovative Higher Degree by Research (HDR) and postdoctoral training for the end-user focused research industries vital to Australia's future.

Professor Matthew Barnett of the Institute for Frontier Materials will lead Deakin’s first ITTC in collaboration with Professor Ming-Xing Zhang and Dr Jeffrey Gates from the University of Queensland and Professor Christopher Hutchinson from Monash University.  Other Deakin University staff involved in the Centre include Professor Peter Hodgson and Dr Daniel Fabijanic.

The ARC Training Centre in Alloy Innovation for Mining Efficiency will transform materials innovation in the mining equipment sector and will graduate innovators ready to position Australian manufacturers at the forefront of this multi-billion dollar market.

The Centre’s goal is to create world’s best performance in highly customised long-life, wear resistant components which will enable much needed efficiencies following the end of the mining super-cycle.

It will also pioneer a new paradigm for rapid development of customised alloys that excel in severe mining conditions using 3D printing, novel characterisation and a unique training environment networked into manufacturers, systems suppliers, miners, consultancies, industry bodies, state government and the METS Ignited Growth Centre. 

The Centre involves five partner organisations:  Keech Castings Australia, Gekko Systems, Weir Minerals, IXL Metal Castings and Cast Bonding Australia and a host of other collaborating organisations including Hycast Metals, Trelleborg Engineered Systems Australia, Newcrest Mining, CSIRO, Central Institute of Mining, Austmine Limited, METS Ignited Australia, Materials Solutions, the Australian Foundry Institute and the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources. Importantly, the Centre will train 14 PhD students and provide work for five postdoctoral research fellows over its 5 year duration.