The Australian Research Council has officially opened the new ARC Research Hub for Functional and Sustainable Fibres which will boost productivity and competitiveness in the advanced manufacturing industry.
Led by Deakin University, the new ARC Research Hub is a collaboration with 16 domestic and international partner organisations. It will focus on research across three core themes— Sustainability, Circular Economies, and Extraordinary Functionality.
The hub will leverage Australia’s research capacity in fibre, textiles, and composite materials to manufacture materials with enhanced functionality and meet the growing demand for advanced fibre capabilities including recycling and re-purposing textile waste.
ARC Chief Research Officer Professor Christina Twomey said the ARC Research Hub will play a fundamental role in increasing collaboration between Australia’s most innovative researchers and vital industries.
It is expected to address the immediate need to reduce the industry’s reliance on petroleum-derived materials and reduce the environmental impact of supply chains.
“The ARC has a proud history of supporting outstanding research that benefits the Australian community, and the ARC Research Hub for Functional and Sustainable Fibres is a great example of this,” Professor Twomey said.
“In collaboration with industry partners, the research team are building on the work undertaken by the ARC Research Hub for a World-class Future Fibre Industry which ended in 2021 – this continued success is no easy feat.”
The ARC has allocated a five-year $5 million funding under the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Program, the council said in a media statement.
“This new ARC Research Hub will strengthen productivity and competitiveness of the advanced manufacturing sector and will place Australia at the forefront of a global shift towards functional and sustainable materials,” the ARC chief researcher added.
