On May 26, 2015 Australia’s Minister for Industry and Science, the Hon Ian Macfarlane MP, opened the 2015 Cooperative Research Centres Association Conference at the parliament building in Canberra, kicking off the Innovative Manufacturing CRC initiative, to be based in Melbourne. This joint research project is set to foster collaboration between research and industry in the field of additive manufacturing. The focus here is on researching and developing additive manufacturing processes, developing automated and supportive technologies and high-quality products and, finally, transferring the technology to industry.
Thanks to its expertise, Fraunhofer ILT will play a key role in two IMCRC research areas. These include additive manufacturing of 3D multi-material systems and components as well as expanding its areas of application, particularly in electrical engineering (microphones) and medical technology (implants). To meet these scientific challenges, Fraunhofer ILT will be providing a major share of the personnel, plant and system technology and will receive direct funding from Australia.
According to Dr. Peter Jonson, interim chair of the IMCRC, the project’s total budget is in the region of 250 million Australian dollars (about 171,5 Mio. Euro), consisting of 40 million Australian dollars (27,5 Mio. Euro) in Commonwealth funding and another 210 million Australian dollars (144 Mio. Euro) in contributions from industry.
IMCRC Partners
The initiative is launching with a total of 18 international manufacturing companies, including SLM Solutions GmbH, RØDE Microphones and Stryker Corporation. More companies are set to join in the next few years. In addition, 16 international universities and research institutions are participating in the IMCRC alongside many well-known Australian universities, such as RMIT University – which has had a close partnership with Fraunhofer ILT for many years already – and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation CSIRO. Fraunhofer ILT is the only German R&D organization partnering with the IMCRC.
Contact
Adj. Prof. (RMIT) Akad. Oberrat Dr.-Ing. Ingomar Kelbassa
Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT
Phone +49 241 8906-143
ingomar.kelbassa(at)ilt.fraunhofer.de
http://www.ilt.fraunhofer.de
