91PORNY

Launch of the ARC Future Digital Manufacturing Hub

Swinburne launched the $5 million Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Transformation Research Hub in Future Digital Manufacturing in March, establishing a national centre dedicated to advancing cutting-edge technologies for Australian industry. The hub will apply digital twins, AI and Internet of Things technologies to improve productivity and strengthen resilience across its 11 industry partners.

Centre for Inclusive Employment begins national rollout

The $22 million Centre for Inclusive Employment (CIE), funded by the Australian Department of Social Services, commenced its work to support employment providers and stakeholders with practical, evidence-based tools that expand pathways to meaningful work for people with disability. The centre brings together experts, those with lived experience and sector partners to drive system-wide improvements in inclusive employment practice.

ARC Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs commences operations

The $35 million ARC Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science (COMBS) commenced its operations, welcoming new researchers and its inaugural cohort of PhD students. Led from RMIT with collaborators at Swinburne and Monash, COMBS is advancing the design and development of optical microcombs, enabling industry partnerships spanning astronomy, precision sensing and fibre-optic communications.

Establishing the global Green Steel Alliance

Swinburne became a founding member of the global Green Steel Alliance, bringing together leading research and industry stakeholders to advance the transition to a green economy. The alliance represents a major step in accelerating low-carbon steelmaking and optimising international collaboration on sustainable manufacturing.

Advancing biomedical innovation through ACMD partnership

Swinburne partnered with the University of Melbourne, Australian Catholic University, RMIT, St Vincent’s Hospital and the Bionics Institute as part of the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery. The new biomedical engineering hub at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne will drive breakthroughs at the intersection of medicine, engineering and digital health.

Recognition of Swinburne academics as Highly Cited Researchers by Clarivate Analytics

The Clarivate Analytics’ Web of Science Group acknowledged 10 Swinburne academics as Highly Cited Researchers. Researchers were honoured in 12 fields, distinguishing them as top-tier experts in their disciplines.

Showcasing innovation at the Avalon Australian International Airshow

Swinburne showcased cutting-edge research in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, detect-and-protect technologies and space innovation at the 2025 Avalon Australian International Airshow. A highlight of the event was the signing ceremony between Swinburne, ELO2 and industry partners to advance Roo-ver, Australia’s first lunar rover. Swinburne also announced EntroMat, the university’s first high-tech spinout launched with support from Breakthrough Victoria’s University Innovation Platform.

Advancing AI capability in Victorian manufacturing

The university expanded support for Victoria’s manufacturing sector by delivering a series of AI in Manufacturing workshops through the Victorian Government’s Digital Jobs Program. More than 40 businesses participated, improving their digital and AI readiness to meet evolving industry demands.

Swinburne hosts Space Showcase at Parliament House

Swinburne delivered a three-day Space Showcase at Victoria’s Parliament House, featuring groundbreaking research in astronomy, supercomputing and space technology. Visitors explored virtual lunar rovers, VR cosmos experiences and industry collaborations, highlighting our national leadership in space science and our role in shaping Australia’s future space workforce.

Joining the Additive Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre

The university joined 100 partners across industry, research and government in the $270.5 million Additive Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre. This industry-led initiative aims to transform Australia’s healthcare, aerospace and construction sectors through next-generation additive manufacturing technologies.

Launch of the Swinburne Talented Researcher Scheme

Swinburne launched the Swinburne Talented Researcher Scheme (STaRS), a strategic initiative designed to attract world-class research talent aligned with the university’s priorities. Distinguished Professor Hao Wang, who joined the School of Engineering, is the first appointment under this new program.

Expanding global collaboration through FACET appointment

Professor Joy Sumner was appointed Co-Director of FACET, the Franco-Australian Indo-Pacific Centre for Energy Transition. FACET’s second symposium, held in Grenoble, France, brought together researchers and industry partners from Australia and France to explore challenges and opportunities in the global energy transition.

Launch of the Mobile Innovation Lab

Swinburne launched the Mobile Innovation Lab, a cutting-edge mobile facility designed for research, industry collaboration, STEM education, training and outreach. The lab supports technology demonstration across autonomous systems, drone technologies, driving simulation and tele-operated medical robotics.

MedTechVic showcases innovation in assistive and medical technologies

Swinburne’s MedTechVic hub convened researchers, industry partners and end users of medical and assistive devices for its 2025 annual showcase. The event highlighted Swinburne’s leadership in co-designed health technologies and its commitment to improving outcomes through user-centred innovation.

Bionics Institute and Swinburne announce a new strategic collaboration agreement

The Bionics Institute and Swinburne announced a strategic collaboration to fast-track the development of life-changing medical devices. Combining the Institute’s world-leading expertise in medical innovation with Swinburne’s advanced research and facilities, the partnership will accelerate the journey of new technologies from concept to clinic. It also provides Swinburne students with hands-on experience alongside leading researchers, reinforcing both institutions’ commitment to real-world impact through innovation.

In 2025, Swinburne reinforced our position as a leader in high-impact, collaborative research. Under the Research Excellence pillar of the Research Strategy, the university delivered strong outcomes, spearheading several major consortia proposals as the lead institution – from Cooperative Research Centres to ARC Centres of Excellence – while also contributing as a consortium member to additional bids. These efforts demonstrate our continued commitment to driving innovation, advancing national research capability and deepening partnerships across industry, government and academia.

Our 2025 achievements were underpinned by a coordinated research ecosystem that brings together Swinburne’s institutes, platforms, centres and strategic partnerships to drive excellence across our priority areas. The ecosystem includes nine dedicated research centres as well as ARC and government-funded initiatives such as OzGrav, COMBS, CIE and FACET. Our strong industry partnerships, including the Siemens Swinburne Energy Transition Hub and the Quad Clean Energy Supply Chain Diversification project delivered with BRIN, Greenko and IIT Hyderabad, further enhance our capacity for high-impact research.

Looking ahead to 2026, Swinburne will refresh our research ecosystem to align with the new Ad Astra_2030 strategy and support the next phase of research excellence.

Social Innovation Research Institute

The Social Innovation Research Institute (SIRI) expanded significantly in 2025, establishing four new research programs with eight co-leads and welcoming 14 new Associate Members. SIRI continued to deliver impactful transdisciplinary research at the intersection of technology and society through collaborations with communities, industry and non-profit partners.

Four new seed-funded projects advanced research in AI and dyslexia, sensor-based workforce monitoring governance, digital inclusion for culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and public health communication on digital platforms. SIRI also led major national initiatives, including the launch of the 2025 Australian Digital Inclusion Index with RMIT, ADM+S and Telstra, and continued developing national digital research infrastructure through the Australian Internet Observatory.

Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute

The Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute (IHIRI) advanced research across six themes: Bioengineering, Digital Health, Chronic Disease and Disability, AI for Health, Computational Biology and Biophysics, and Neuromodulation. This expanded capability improved engagement with established and emerging health partners.

IHIRI also led the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of Emerging Technology research group and continued as an Australian hub within the International Chair in Bioethics network. Dr Evie Kendal was appointed Co-Director of the Yale Technology and Ethics workgroup, recognising her leadership in emerging technology ethics.

Innovative Planet Research Institute

The Innovative Planet Research Institute (IPRI) bolstered Swinburne’s sustainability and resilience research, with a focus on advancing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. IPRI supported proof-of-concept projects in green steel and quantum-enabled sensing for biosecurity risks. IPRI also supported the appointment of Swinburne’s first Sustainability Theme Leader, Associate Professor Rosalie Hocking, and played a central role in developing the SHIELD CRC bid for sovereign positioning, navigation and timing capability.

It also progressed multidisciplinary quantum sensing collaborations to improve the security of GPS-dependent energy systems with the Siemens Energy Hub. In partnership with FACET, IPRI supported the Climate 4.0 Hub to accelerate climate tech start-ups in Australia and France.

Space Technology and Industry Institute

The Space Technology and Industry Institute (STII) expanded its impact through new radiation and robotics programs and joined NASA’s Lunar Explorer Instrument for Space Biology Applications mission to study radiation and partial gravity effects on the Moon.

Through the ELO2 consortium, STII contributed to the development of Roo-ver, Australia’s first lunar rover, supporting NASA’s Artemis program.

STII also supported Gilmour Space Technologies’ Eris and ElaraSat-1 missions, improving sovereign launch and satellite capability. Swinburne’s lunar dust mitigation payload will feature on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Rashid-2 mission in 2026, and its spider silk experiment was integrated into the University of Stuttgart SOURCE2 satellite. 

Digital Capability Research Platform

The Digital Capability Research Platform (DCRP) continued to advance Swinburne’s national leadership in cybersecurity and digital innovation. Swinburne was named a finalist for Cyber Research Institution of the Year at the 2025 Australian Cyber Awards. Professors Yang Xiang and Kai Qin were acknowledged as Highly Cited Researchers by Clarivate, underscoring DCRP’s global research excellence.

Manufacturing Futures Research Platform

The Manufacturing Futures Research Platform (MFRP) played a critical role in securing the Additive Manufacturing CRC (AMCRC), a $250 million centre headquartered at Swinburne. MFRP also contributed to the Australian Air Mobility Cooperative Research Centre (AAM CRC) bid and supported several multi-million dollar proposals.

In 2025, the MFRP team strengthened industry engagement through strategic outreach activities, including a strong presence at the Avalon Airshow and Australian Manufacturing Week. Working alongside Swinburne staff and students, including the Formula

SAE team, MFRP showcased Swinburne’s advanced manufacturing research capabilities, generating multiple productive industry connections. Additionally, the MFRP was represented at two major industry events: Formnext in Frankfurt and the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition in Sydney.

Factory of the Future

The Factory of the Future (FoF) accelerated digital transformation across Victoria and Tasmania. The FoF was awarded a Digital Jobs for Manufacturing tender to deliver critical industry training in 2026 and 2027, following a 2025 program in which it trained more than 100 SMEs, including through the new AI for Manufacturing course. The FoF presented its expertise at the AI Forum in regional Victoria and Industrial Transformation conferences in Australia and Singapore. It also became the first Australian institution accredited by the International Centre for Industrial Transformation to deliver the Smart Industry Readiness Index.

Swinburne-CSIRO National Industry 4.0 Testlab

The Swinburne-CSIRO National Industry 4.0 Testlab (Testlab) strengthened its national profile through aerospace and defence partnerships, hosting more than 30 industry, government and academic delegations and showcasing capability at the Avalon Airshow, Australian Manufacturing Week and Open Day.

Key achievements included fabricating flight-ready satellite panels for the ElaraSat-1 mission launched via SpaceX Transporter-14 with Gilmour Space Technologies and delivering a carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic stamp-formed drone wing subassembly, marking the first demonstration of rapid thermoplastic composite manufacturing in Australia.

The Testlab collaborated with the University of Melbourne

The Testlab collaborated with the University of Melbourne before “and Deakin and Deakin University on composite test panels and with MedTechVic on patient handling and mobility prototypes. It progressed innovation projects with Romar Engineering through the MFRP Seed Fund, deepened engagement through major grant submissions and ARC proposals, and supported workforce development with seven higher-degree research completions and the student-led Bike Innovation Project.

Victorian Hydrogen Hub

Despite ongoing headwinds in the hydrogen sector, 2025 was a year of consolidation and strategic progress for the Victorian Hydrogen Hub (VH2). The hub deepened industry partnerships across Australia and expanded its involvement in key national initiatives, including projects with iMoveCRC and HiLTCRC. VH2 researchers received significant recognition, with PhD student Bima Satritama awarded the TMS EPD/LMD JSM Best Paper Award for collaborative work with CSIRO and the Australian National University.

VH2 also established new partnerships with Central Queensland University and the FACET to advance sustainable hydrogen supply chains between Australia, France and Japan. VH2 also advanced its Hydrogen Skills Roadmap, first released in 2022, with an updated version to be published in early 2026.

Looking ahead, VH2 will continue supporting hydrogen developments and explore new opportunities in emerging fuels including sustainable aviation fuel, methanol and ammonia.

Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub

The Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub (AIR Hub) achieved major milestones in 2025 across design, aerostructures research and advanced air mobility (AAM). A key achievement was the delivery of the META 2.0 demonstrator, a thermoplastic carbon fibre-reinforced plastic aerostructure designed and prototyped using LM-PAEK hot-stamping technology.

Showcased at the 2025 Avalon Airshow and manufactured at the Swinburne–CSIRO National Industry 4.0 Testlab, the demonstrator highlights new opportunities for high-rate automated production.

AIR Hub advanced to the final round of the Australian Air Mobility CRC bid, a $270 million proposal involving more than 60 partners across government, industry and research. AIR Hub further supported workforce development through its first AAM masterclass delivered with Latrobe Council.

The hub acknowledged the contribution of outgoing Director Dr Adriano Di Pietro, with Acting Director Dr Pat Burka now leading its development as a long-term research and technology hub.

Medical Technologies Victoria

In 2025, Medical Technologies Victoria (MedTechVic) solidified its position as a national leader in co-designed medical and assistive technologies. The hub continued to bring together people with lived experience, clinicians, researchers and industry partners to drive user-centred innovation. A highlight of the year was the MedTechVic 2025 Showcase, Innovation in Collaboration, featuring keynote speaker Caleb Rixon and showcasing new approaches in health, rehabilitation and assistive technology design.

MedTechVic advanced key prototypes through its collaboration with the Testlab and delivered four cohorts of its pre-seed commercialisation program with AAMRI, MTPConnect and Swinburne Edge to support emerging MedTech entrepreneurs. The hub secured competitive funding through the National Disability Research Partnership for Safe in My Own Skin, a collaborative project focused on user-led proposals that centre lived experience and inclusion.

MedTechVic also contributed to the Oceania Seating Symposium through five workshops and presentations and is helping shape the 2027 symposium, to be held in Melbourne. International recognition continued to grow, with three team members invited to present at the International Seating Symposium in Pittsburgh.

The Swinburne Defence Initiative continued to elevate its focus on detection and protection in 2025, advancing dual-use technology projects and deepening engagement across Australia. Approval for Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) membership was obtained, marking a significant step in expanding Swinburne’s ability to undertake sensitive and classified work.

The Swinburne Mobile Innovation Lab was launched as a deployable platform to support research, testing and demonstration. Swinburne’s capabilities were prominently featured at major national events, including Avalon Airshow 2025, Australian Manufacturing Week and the Indo Pacific Exposition, enhancing industry visibility and engagement.

Partnerships continued to expand both nationally and internationally, with new collaborations formed with the Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Central Florida, NATO, the University of Nottingham, DST Group, KBR, Babcock and Corvus, reinforcing Swinburne’s position as a trusted partner in defence research and innovation.

Swinburne Edge is the university’s workforce development and professional learning enterprise. Partnering with industry, government and organisations, it delivers practical learning and future skills solutions that are applied, scalable and focused on the needs of a rapidly evolving world. Its mission is to build workforce capability, prepare people for disruption and enable both businesses and individuals to thrive.

This year, Swinburne Edge continued to innovate and deliver real impact. A highlight was its partnership with McDonald’s Australia on the Archways to Opportunity Program, giving over 200,000 employees the chance to convert workplace skills into university credit through micro-credentials. Swinburne is one of the institutions recognising these credentials, creating tailored pathways for career advancement.

The year also saw expansion into international markets and a growing focus on enterprise-wide learning solutions. Swinburne Edge supported 5,653 unique learners and delivered 775 workshops to 9,454 participants, awarding 684 accredited qualifications. Since 2020, it has reached more than 34,000 learners and collaborated with over 200 delivery partners across Australia.

Through its Product Lab, Swinburne Edge led the design and delivery of customised, scalable learning experiences. In 2025, key projects included AGL’s Data Literacy Program, NAB’s Cultural Awareness module and SJ Group’s Regenerative Foundations series in Singapore. The Product Lab also delivered strategic initiatives such as the Hydrogen Skills Roadmap update and the Franco-Australian Indo-Pacific Centre for Energy Transition Skills Roadmap, reinforcing Swinburne Edge’s influence on the national and global skills agenda.

Swinburne Edge also enhanced its client engagement and thought leadership through the launch of the Edgier Series, a platform exploring themes such as AI in local government, creative intelligence and occupational health and safety reform. More than 300 enterprise participants took part in these events, sparking cross-sector conversations on the future of work. National and international presentations, media coverage and key appointments further reinforced Swinburne Edge’s position as a leader in flexible, enterprise-aligned learning.