UNSW Sydney researchers have secured over $4.6 million in Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grants, leading the nation with nine successful projects aimed at translating academic breakthroughs into practical industry applications. The highly competitive grants will fund collaborations across engineering, science, and arts disciplines, reinforcing Australia’s innovation pipeline and boosting capabilities in critical sectors such as renewable energy and environmental remediation.

Professor Bronwyn Fox, UNSW’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Enterprise, emphasized the strategic importance of these grants. “ARC Linkage Projects play an important role in supporting national and international strategic partnerships that translate research into practical benefits, strengthening Australia’s innovation pipeline and boosting capabilities across sectors,” Professor Fox stated. “With nine ARC Linkage grants this round – more than any other Australian university – and across a range of disciplines, it’s wonderful to see UNSW at the forefront of innovative research partnerships that will drive benefits for all.”

Among the key projects, Scientia Professor Xiaojing Hao from UNSW Engineering received $670,000 for a project focused on developing inks for the commercial manufacturing of perovskite photovoltaics. Collaborating with Phoenixolar Technology, this initiative aims to scale up the production of advanced perovskite solar cells and enhance their long-term stability, a crucial step towards widespread commercial adoption of this high-efficiency solar technology.

In environmental engineering, Professor Michael Manefield, also from UNSW Engineering, was awarded $653,379. His project, in partnership with Orica, seeks to develop next-generation groundwater clean-up technologies. The research will focus on creating novel chemical catalysts to accelerate the degradation of toxic contaminants in water, utilizing sophisticated computer models to predict degradation rates. This world-first approach promises to significantly reduce the cost, duration, and environmental impact of remediating contaminated land and groundwater.

Further contributing to sustainable practices, Professor Bing-Jie Ni from UNSW Engineering secured $494,978 for a project titled ‘Greening wastewater treatment process for efficient resource recovery.’ Working with industry partners Sustainable Eco Projects, South East Water, and Standard Botanic, the team aims to develop an innovative wastewater treatment system that not only purifies water but also produces valuable bio-stimulants for agricultural use, all while achieving near-zero greenhouse gas emissions. This research is expected to yield substantial benefits for Australian industries by advancing sustainable wastewater management and resource recovery.

These grants underscore the Australian government's commitment to fostering research that directly addresses national priorities and global challenges, positioning Australian universities and their industry partners at the forefront of technological innovation.