The Morrison Government will invest $50 million to create a new business and research partnership with Deakin University, creating 1,100 jobs over the next five years.
Deakin University will work with 21 industry partners, including 16 small businesses, and 7 higher education providers, to accelerate ideas into innovative, sustainable manufacturing solutions in the hydrogen and recycling industries.
The project aims to create more than 60 new products, 100 patents and more than 1,100 new jobs
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Deakin University is the fourth Trailblazer to receive funding through the Trailblazer program which is designed to focus Australia’s considerable research power on Australia’s National Manufacturing Priorities.
“Our economic plan is supercharging Australia’s research and development, creating more jobs and helping to build a strong economy and a stronger future,” the Prime Minister said.
“We are investing in new clean technology that will create more jobs in Melbourne by backing in Victoria’s best and brightest talent.”
Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education Bridget McKenzie said the project will have a significant impact for regions across Australia.
“This is a research commercialisation project that will directly benefit regional Australia by ensuring our hydrogen and recycling industries are strong, efficient and reliable,” Minister McKenzie said.
“The Trailblazer investment is an important component of the Government’s $2 billion Regional Accelerator Program announced in the recent 2022 Budget, which is designed to drive economic growth and jobs in regional Australia.”
Acting Minister for Education and Youth Stuart Robert said Deakin University and its partners have promised more than $320 million in co-investment, matching public funding by 6 to 1.
“The co-investment of industry partners, and especially by the 16 partner small businesses, shows that Australian industry is hungry to collaborate with universities to unleash a new wave of technology and innovation,” Minister Robert said.
“This project will help harness the cutting-edge clean energy research being done in our top universities, including in hydrogen, to create more jobs for Australians.
“This Trailblazer funding means more jobs right here in Australia, a stronger research and development sector and a stronger economy.”
Deakin University is the fourth successful Trailblazer to be announced. They were selected as a Trailblazer from a two-stage competitive assessment process where universities were required to submit expressions and interest and then more detailed business cases.
The Morrison Government has invested $362 million in the Trailblazer Universities program – an initial $243 million announced in November last year and an additional $119 million through our Regional Accelerator Program announced on Budget night. This is part of the Government’s $2.2 billion University Research Commercialisation Action Plan, which will focus the considerable research power of our universities on Australia’s National Manufacturing Priorities.