Using nanotechnology to create a new wave of niche industries and add value to existing high-value segments of the manufacturing sector.
The Niche Manufacturing National Research Flagship's goal is to support the development of niche manufacturing businesses based on nanotechnology, to be worth in excess of A$3 billion per year by 2020.
Niche Manufacturing Flagship aims
A new Flagship for Niche Manufacturing, supported by an additional A$36.2 m over four years, will:
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help existing high value segments of the manufacturing industry become more competitive in global supply chains
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develop globally competitive medical products
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identify next generation fabricated devices
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capture value from nanotechnology for new materials
- consider health, safety and environmental issues of nanotechnology.
The manufacturing sector employs over 1 million Australians and remains one of the largest sectors of the Australian economy, currently accounting for around 13 per cent gross domestic product (GDP).
The sector faces many challenges including increasing competition from low cost producers, global sourcing and supply chains, and the increasing sophistication and technical complexity of manufacturing.
The challenge the Niche Manufacturing Flagship has set itself is to provide transformational innovation for the Australian manufacturing industry by taking advantage of recent advances in nanotechnology and to do this in a safe and socially responsible way.
An exciting development in the Flagship will be the use of a more open innovation business model ensuring that the technologies CSIRO develops are integrated with the needs of the manufacturing sector.
This will become a service the Flagship provides, particularly to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Manufactured products are only of value if they contribute to an economic need.
The nanotechnology based products and devices the Niche Manufacturing Flagship produces will also serve the customers of the:
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Energy Transformed Flagship
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Preventative Health Flagship
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Water for a Healthy Country Flagship
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Wealth from Oceans Flagship.
This will further contribute to CSIRO’s strategy of addressing major national challenges.
The Flagship's goal is to support the development of niche manufacturing businesses in Australia.
CSIRO leads
CSIRO is a world leader in nanotechnology and materials research.
It has a strong track record in developing:
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new composite materials
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engineering polymers
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fabricated devices.
Research themes
The Niche Manufacturing Flagship research themes include:
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Theme 1: Carbon Nanotube Yarn: will establish an innovative Australian business in the production of carbon nanotube yarn.
Theme Leader: Dr Shaun Smith
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Theme 2: Nanomaterials for Medical Delivery: will develop a new generation of therapeutic delivery technologies based on CSIRO’s world leading position in controlled polymer.
Theme Leader: Dr John Tsanaktsidis
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Theme 3: NMF - Electroactive Materials: will develop disruptive technologies and products such as photovoltaic cells and printable polymer electronics delivering outcomes in the energy, materials, health and environment domains.
Theme Leader: Dr Gerry Wilson
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Theme 4: Analysis at Point of Sampling (APOS): will build an Australian sensor industry based on real time on-site assessment of chemical and biological species.
Theme Leader: Dr Tim Davis
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Theme 5: Nanosafety: will ensure that Australia captures the benefits of nanotechnology in a safe and socially responsible way.
Theme Leader: Dr Maxine McCall
Collaborations
It is collaborating with multinational companies, like Boeing, and creating successful export orientated biotechnology spin-offs, like Polynovo.
Read more about National Research Flagships.
