There is a new Australian Research Council (ARC)
Research Hub that will focus on research accelerating Australia’s manufacturing
capabilities in separation technologies and machinery.
Called the ARC Industrial Transformation
Research Hub for Energy-Efficient Separation, the hub will train the next
generation of industry-ready researchers in this important growth area.
According to the report
released by ARC, ARC Chief Executive Officer Professor Sue Thomas welcomed the
official opening of the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for
Energy-Efficient Separation at the Monash University, which was led by
Professor Xiwang Zhang.
It will be receiving A$ 4 million over 5
years through the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hubs scheme. This is a
part of the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Program.
Professor Thomas explained that advanced
separation materials, innovative products and smart processes that reduce the
energy consumption of separation processes being used by many important
Australian industries, are being developed by the Research Hub.
The Hub is collaborating with many partners
as they look for methods to significantly cut operational costs for industry through
lower electricity consumption and be able to deliver improved products.
She added that the potential financial
value of this ARC Research Hub to Australia is enormous because many of the
country’s key industries like water, mining, chemical, oil and gas use
separation processes that can be transformed to become more energy-efficient
with improved technology.
Aside from delivering transformation for
Australian industry, the ARC Research Hub will also be used as a training
platform. It will create a multi-disciplinary training capability that will
supply a highly trained workforce in order to meet the future needs of the
country’s advanced manufacturing sector.
It will particularly focus on separation
technology which can be a growth area in which Australia can potentially lead
the world.
A joint research activity between the
Australian higher education sector and industry is being fostered by the
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs scheme. This is designed so that
strategic outcomes that are not independently realisable can be worked on
together.
Researchers based at Monash University will
work be able to work collaboratively with many major universities, research
organizations, corporations and companies.