News Review: CRC-ACS starts new 5-year composites research program | ADM Oct 2010
The Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Composite Structures (CRC-ACS) has had its funding extended to cover a new five-year, $65 million composites research program.
With $14 million from the Federal government CRC program and over $50 million in cash and kind from 28 participating organisations, “This is an important milestone in the 19 year history of our organisation,” according to its CEO, Professor Murray Scott.
A major feature of the extension to CRC-ACS funding is the high level of international participation: nine of the 28 participants are located outside Australia.
Its Board is chaired by former DSTO AMRL Director Dr Bill Schofield, AM, and includes Fabrice Rochereau, CEO of EADS Australia Pacific Pty Ltd, and Dr Colin Wong Hee Huing, Vice President of Technology and Engineering at PETRONAS, Malaysia’s national oil & gas company.
The CRC-ACS Extension Program willfocus on international development of composites and related technology in Australia, using a highly successful collaborative research model facilitate the integration of Australian composites manufacturing, materials supply and engineering support enterprises into international value chains bring a range of new technologies to market, including breakthrough aircraft structure assembly technology, low-cost infrastructure repair, and sustainable plant-fibre biocomposites.
Australia will have unprecedented opportunities to engage in the European aerospace market. EADS will commence its first ever major R&D program in Australia through this initiative, while the German Aerospace Centre, DLR, will also commence its first major composites R&D engagement in Australia.
The ADF will benefit from maturing research into structural health monitoring systems and repair technology, and developing life-saving crash systems for helicopters.
DSTO, a long term participant in CRC-ACS, will play a major role in the development of these technologies.
Major initiatives in composites will be implemented over the next decade in the Oil & Gas sector, in which Australia is now positioned to take a leading role. PETRONAS will participate in the CRC-ACS program to extend the focus of Australia’s extensive expertise in composites technology.
The 28 participants in CRC-ACS are a mix of research institutions, materials suppliers, engineering service organisations and end-users.
Other organisations will be invited to join the research program, so that all relevant organisations to industrial implementation can build the necessary skills within the program.
“The Centre has had great success in developing Australian technology and making Australia internationally competitive in the field,” according to Murray Scott who emphasises the importance of the increased international focus of the new CRC-ACS program.
“The success of collaborative programs such as CRC-ACS depends on the engagement of the technology users, and I am very pleased that we have the support of such important multinational organisations in the development of composites technologies.
“The extension of funding has taken CRC-ACS to an entirely new level of international engagement.
“We aim to make Australia a preferred destination for composites technology development over the next five years, through its combination of skilled personnel, leading technology and innovative approaches to development and implementation.”
By securing a fourth term of CRC Funding, CRC-ACS has again established its position as the longest continually-running Centre in the history of the CRC Program.
Since its establishment in July 1991, CRC-ACS has delivered significant benefit to the Australian economy, including technology underpinning Australia’s $4 billion engagement in the Boeing 787 program.
Continuation of CRC-ACS will allow Australia to take a leading role in composites development, position Australian SMEs prominently amongst international industry, and lead the Australian Composites Industry into a strong and competitive future.