The Morrison Government has awarded $69.9 million in grant funding to build on Australia’s competitive strengths in our domestic composite manufacturing industry.
The Sovereign Manufacturing Automation for Composites (SoMAC) Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) will leverage more than $189.3 million in cash and in-kind contributions from 36 partners to potentially generate $2.1 billion in benefits to our composite industry sector.
Results from this new CRC will contribute to our space, defence and medical industries, generating some 1500 new jobs.
The funding has been provided under Round 23 of the CRC program, which is deliverying $154.4 million in grants to three major business-research partnerships helping to solve major challenges facing Australian industries, generating thousands of new jobs.
The CRC, led by the University of New South Wales, will undertake work with partners that include five other universities and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.
Minister for Science and Technology Melissa Price said the CRC would allow our Australian composite manufacturers to gain a competitive edge by encouraging them to modernise and automate.
The CRC will do this by linking Australia’s top composites research institutions with key manufacturers and their supply chains.
“The Morrison Government’s CRC Program is a proven model of industry and research cooperation that has produced impressive commercial results,” Minister Price said.
“The activities of this new CRC has the potential to triple the number of jobs currently available within our national composite industry sector and train more than 100 higher degree candidates.
“This funding complements the Morrison Government’s strong commitment to manufacturing, with this CRC addressing one or more of the National Manufacturing Priorities.”
Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the ability to make things here and do it well was a cornerstone of the Morrison Government’s industry policy.
“Projects like these are vital to strengthening our sovereign manufacturing capability and our plan to continue to grow Australia’s manufacturing sector so that it can be competitive, create jobs and strengthen our economy,” Minister Taylor said.
“One of the key parts of our $2.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy is getting science and technology working for industry and for jobs.
“This investment is ensuring we are aligning our research and innovation with our areas of focus, like medical products, defence and clean energy.
“These projects are about manufacturing the products and materials Australians need and the world needs, by making them right here at home.”
Since the Coalition Government came to office in 2013, it has committed more than $1.8 billion to support the establishment of 36 CRCs and 189 CRC Projects.
This has leveraged a further $5.2 billion in cash and in-kind contributions from partners, to develop important new technologies, products and services that help solve major economic, environmental and social challenges facing Australia.
Only the Morrison Government has a plan to deliver a stronger economy and a stronger future for regional Australia.
The CRC Program is competitive and merit-based. For more information visit www.business.gov.au/crc.