Future Industries Institute

The University of South Australia's new multi-million dollar Future Industries Institute (FII) focuses on building knowledge and capacity in core future industries and develops the University’s internationally competitive research capacity across four key strands: Minerals and resources engineering, Energy and advanced manufacturing, Environmental science and engineering, and Biomaterials engineering and nanomedicine. The FII is located at the University’s Mawson Lakes campus.

Origins

The FII was established in 2015 bringing together the research activities of the established Ian Wark Research Institute (IWRI), Mawson Institute (MI) and Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation (CERAR). The FII focuses on four research strands:

• Minerals and resources engineering
• Energy and advanced manufacturing
• Environmental science and engineering
• Biomaterials engineering and nanomedicine

The research strands build from the research capabilities and reputations of the IWRI, MI and CERAR, IWRI and extends into other complementary research capabilities within the University's Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment, and across the University.

These strands support state and national research and economic development priorities in:

• Resources, energy and renewable assets (State Economic Priority 1, National Priority 5)
• Environment, soil and water (State Economic Priority 2, National Priorities 2 and 7)
• Health research and devices (State Economic Priority 3, National Priority 5)
• Commercialisation of research and growth through innovation (State Economic Priorities 4 and 6, National Priority 6)

The FII has also formed a major academic partnership with University College London, and will engage in joint research programs and develop educational initiatives in conjunction with UCL Engineering through a partnership of close international collaboration.

Purpose

New technologies are changing the face of global economies. Australia is not immune to this disruption, and diversification from traditional industry bases is essential for future prosperity. The FII is a major commitment by UniSA to meet this need head on.

The FII focuses on creating high value, knowledge intensive alternatives underpinned by unique skill bases, infrastructure technology solutions and collaborative research relationships. It brings together the University’s world-class strengths in advanced manufacturing, nanomedicine, Minerals and resources engineering and Environmental science, and encourages researchers to blur the boundaries and build new relationships between industry and academia.

The FII’s approach to solving research challenges with its partners is solution-driven and collaborative from the outset. The Institute works with partners to define a problem, map out possible approaches, set benchmarks and realistic expectations, and create knowledge and new technology.

Research

The FII has four primary research strands which are solution driven and support State and national research and economic priorities. They bring together the University of South Australia’s world-class strengths to focus on critical industry sectors.

Biomaterials Engineering and Nanomedicine

This strand supports the development of precision medicine by leveraging long standing expertise in nanomedicine. The FII’s chemists, materials scientists and biomedical scientists work directly with clinicians and the biotechnology and medical technology industries. Through partnership discoveries are made in EXCITING new ways to diagnose, manage and treat debilitating diseases such as cancers, autoimmune diseases and chronic wounds. The FII further develops novel biomaterials to support cell therapy.

Research capabilities:

• Fabrication of nanostructured materials
• Thin film coatings
• Surface analysis
• In vitro and in vivo testing of materials
• Design, fabrication and testing of microfluidic devices
• Optical and electrochemical biosensors
• Responsive and targeted [...] delivery vehicles
• Biomaterials and tissue engineering

Energy and Advanced Manufacturing

Fundamental, applied and translational research provides intelligent solutions and dynamic new approaches for tomorrow’s manufacturing industries. Scientists and engineers who specialise in polymer chemistry, materials science and surface engineering technologies work closely with industry partners to develop new products and innovative ideas in sectors such as automotive, defence, health care and renewable energy. One of The FII’s partnerships with industry has allowed it to take a key role in the design and development of the next generation of sun tracking heliostats suitable for both concentrated solar thermal and concentrated photo-voltaic energy generation.

Research capabilities:

• The design and deposition of multi-layer thin film coating systems
• Developing environmentally robust coating systems for real world applications
• Process development and scale up
• Energy capture, storage and conversion
• Design and fabrication of advanced nanomaterials and nanocomposites
• Conducting polymer synthesis and device fabrication
• Materials science and catalysis

Environmental Science and Engineering

Environmental sustainability is a global imperative, a driver of change and a key to modern business success. The FII’s researchers draw on expertise in biogeochemical processes to develop innovative solutions to the challenges facing agriculture and the environment. The FII’s focus is on food security, remediation of contaminated sites, the control of antibiotic resistant microorganisms, risk assessment of emerging technologies and environmental policy support.

Research capabilities:

• Environmental and human exposure assessment
• Characterisation and remediation of contaminated sites
• Food security, plant nutrition and soil fertility
• Risk assessment of emerging technologies
• Environmental microbial ecology and metagenomics
• Waste characterisation and valorisation

Minerals and Resources Engineering Research Strand

This strand delivers both high-quality basic science and outcome-driven research and development to a resources sector challenged by decreasing deposit quality. Working with industry, The FII strives to improve process performance, reduce energy and water usage and assist in the assessment and introduction of new, value chain technological innovations. Expertise in geological materials characterisation and minerals processing is supported by strengths in physical chemistry, physics and extractive metallurgical engineering.

Research capabilities:

• Froth flotation/physical separation/hydrometallurgy
• Fundamentals of mineral surface and interfacial chemistry
• Mini pilot scale process assessment, site work/surveys
• Surface analytical characterisation of real plant slurries and applications of synchrotron science
• Agglomeration/granulation/pelletisation
• Flocculation, sedimentation, rheology dewatering and process water quality/effects
• In-line sensor research and micro-fabrication of devices
• New technology assessment, materials science applications
• Geological materials characterisation for life-of-resource planning

Staff

The FII's director is Professor Emily Hilder. Strand leaders include Professor Nico Voelcker (Biomaterials Engineering and Nanomedicine), Professor Enzo Lombi (Environmental Science and Engineering), Professor Peter Murphy (Energy and Advanced Manufacturing), Professor David Giles (Minerals and Resources Engineering).