$50m Deakin deal for energy project
MORE than 1100 new jobs will be created across the clean energy and recycling industries over the next five years under a $50m partnership between the federal government and Deakin University.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will announce the federal funding on Friday, saying the initiative will transform groundbreaking ideas into sustainable manufacturing solutions.
“We are investing in new clean technology that will create more jobs in Melbourne by backing in Victoria’s best and brightest talent,” Mr Morrison said.
Deakin is the fourth university to receive funding under the government’s $362m Trailblazer program, which aims to bolster Australia’s research power in a bid to address national manufacturing priorities.
The university will work with 21 industry partners, including 16 small businesses and seven higher education providers, to commercialise research that will benefit the hydrogen and recycling sectors.
Over the next five years more than 60 new products and 100 patents are expected to be developed, while at least 250 of the 1135 new jobs will be in the technology sector.
A hub will also be created at Deakin’s Waurn Ponds campus, close to the Laborheld marginal seat of Corangamite, which Mr Morrison has set his sights on winning at the federal poll.
Acting Education Minister Stuart Robert said more than $320m in co-investment had also been promised, matching the public funding by six to one.
Mr Robert said the pledge confirmed that Australian industry was hungry to collaborate with universities and unleash a new wave of technology and innovation.
“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,” he said.
“This Trailblazer funding means more jobs right here in Australia, a stronger research and development sector and a stronger economy.”
Deakin University was selected as a Trailblazer from a two-stage competitive assessment process.
Universities were required to submit expressions of interest and then more detailed business cases.