A new partnership between the Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility (AMRF) and 11 universities in NSW and the ACT aims to advance manufacturing innovation in Western Sydney.
NSW Premier Chris Minns announced the agreement, which will see the New South Wales Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (NSWVCC) collaborate with AMRF to integrate university research with industrial production.
The initiative seeks to accelerate research commercialisation, strengthening Australia’s manufacturing sector, the government said in a news release.
Bradfield Development Authority CEO Ken Morrison said the collaboration presents a major opportunity to build a high-tech ecosystem in Western Sydney.
He highlighted an internship program launching in 2025 that will provide paid placements for university students at AMRF, with a focus on increasing diversity by encouraging applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and those from underrepresented backgrounds.
The partnership will also integrate universities with AMRF through AMRF Connect, a business accelerator hub operated by Western Sydney University’s Launch Pad in collaboration with CSIRO.
NSWVCC Convener Professor Alex Zelinsky AO welcomed the collaboration, emphasising its benefits for students, researchers, and industry.
Located in Bradfield City Centre, AMRF is an innovation accelerator providing businesses with access to advanced technology, expertise, and training.
It plays a key role in the region’s economic development, leveraging over $20 billion in Aerotropolis infrastructure investment.
The facility specialises in engineering design, precision machining, process improvement, and factory digitization.
Companies like Marley Flow have already identified operational efficiencies through AMRF, potentially increasing productivity by 600% and cutting production costs by up to 20 per cent.
The participating universities include Australian Catholic University, the Australian National University, Charles Sturt University, Macquarie University, the University of Newcastle, the University of New England, the University of New South Wales, the University of Sydney, the University of Technology Sydney, the University of Wollongong, and Western Sydney University.
