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Advanced manufacturing

As our manufacturers embrace advanced technologies, we’re fuelling new opportunities and driving growth to cement a competitive and sustainable manufacturing capability in Australia.

A future made in Australia

The Australian Government has committed to creating a new A$1 billion investment fund to support advanced manufacturing. This investment will give manufacturers access to capital to diversify their operations, industrial processes, and use research and development to climb the technological ladder. It aims to create new capabilities and opportunities to innovate in transport, defence, resources, agricultural and food processing, medical science, renewables and low emission technologies manufacturing.

It's part of the government’s wider A$15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, a financing vehicle to drive investments focussed on value adding and capability development to leverage Australia’s natural and competitive strengths.

A$33.2 billion
Australia’s advanced manufacturing exports in 2020
A$117 billion
International investment in Australian manufacturing in 2021

Australian manufacturing produced more than A$115 billion in annual output in 2020/21. And in 2021, manufacturing attracted A$117 billion from international investors. We’re creating an environment to support rapid growth in manufacturing. We’re undertaking a rapid transformation into a highly integrated, collaborative and export-focused ecosystem, providing high-value customised solutions within global value chains.

On average, Australian manufacturing exports grew by 4.1% per year over the past 5 years.

Join Australia’s advanced manufacturing industry

Australia’s innovative culture, abundance of natural resources and generous funding and incentives are among our manufacturing sector’s competitive advantages.  Watch to find out why there’s never been a more exciting time to be part of Australia’s thriving advanced manufacturing ecosystem.

Join us as R&D partners

Australia has a bright future in collaborating, co-designing and co-creating innovations in materials science, precision engineering and advanced manufacturing.

Our manufacturing sector is sharpening its focus on high tech products based on sustainable, advanced manufacturing processes. With dynamic links between universities, industry and research institutions, Australian innovative science and technology solutions are widely sought after.

It’s not only Australian manufacturers that benefit from our innovative experts. Developments flow through to every other sector, such as the resources, agriculture, renewable energy, transport, medical science, defence and information technology sectors.

Hands working on a circuit board

 

CSIRO’s Lab22 Innovation Centre develops innovative materials and additive manufacturing techniques for the space, defence and medical Industries. Its partners include NASA JPL, Boeing and Chevron Corporation.

CSIRO worked with Melbourne manufacturer Amaero Engineering to explore the use of conformal cooling in 3D printed die cast tooling, using computational modelling. They developed an innovative solution using clever simulations.

Incentives, grants and support

  • The Australian Government’s $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund will drive investment in key sectors focusing on value adding and capability development to leverage Australia’s natural and competitive strengths, supporting new and emerging industries. Keep up to date with new funding measures and incentives as they are announced through the Department of Industry website.
  • The Research and Development Tax Incentive encourages investment in research and development (R&D) to help businesses to grow and innovate by offering a tax offset for companies conducting eligible R&D activities.
  • The Australian Tax Office’s New Investment Engagement Service gives tailored guidance on tax issues to businesses planning significant new investments in Australia.

 

Spotlight on our nanotech R&D ecosystem

The A$150 million Sydney Nanoscience Hub is a world-class centre for nanoscale research and education. It houses labs and core nanofabrication and characterisation facilities, and is jointly funded by the Commonwealth Education Infrastructure Fund and the University of Sydney.

In 2022, the Hub is challenging researchers to develop the following:

  • new nanomaterials to capture sunlight and convert it into renewable fuels
  • microfluidic solutions for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of blood clots by simulating human vessels on small chips
  • disruptive nanoscale sensing technologies for detection of airborne pathogens to upgrade public biosecurity.

The University of Queensland hosts the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology. An integrated multi-disciplinary research institute bringing together the skills of world-class researchers, its work includes precision nanomedicine and agriculture nanotechnology.

Recently, the Institute used nanotechnology to improve the performance of sugarcane waste when it’s turned into bio-based single-use packaging materials. Adding a small amount of nanofibres to sugarcane pulp improves its mechanical properties and increases the shelf life of food.

Video: Biotechnology in Australia

An estimated 60% of the world's physical inputs could one day be made with biology – and innovative Australian company, Provectus Algae, is leading the charge. Founder & CEO, Nusqe Spanton, explains why our innovative culture, natural resources and government support makes Australia’s manufacturing industry globally competitive.

 

Factsheet

Advanced Manufacturing Factsheet

 

 

Australia's advanced manufacturing ecosystems

Success stories

A controller dressed in a white clean suit touches a screen that programs a manufacturing robotic arm
Renewable energy farm using a combination of wind turbines and solar PV arrays

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