image: Woodside Innovation Centre at Monash University. view more
Credit: Monash University
Monash University and Woodside today announced the launch of a new Innovation Centre, bringing together the University's pioneering research and design capabilities with one of Australia's leading oil and gas companies. The partnership aims to drive significant advances in the energy sector, bringing positive economic benefits to Australia.
Officially opened by the Hon. Josh Frydenberg, Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia, the Woodside Innovation Centre incorporates cutting-edge technology with exceptional expertise in both engineering research and design, and IT.
Woodside will contribute AUD $10 million over five years toward the Centre - the largest corporate philanthropic gift in the University's history. The Centre will establish a globally connected innovation hub that rapidly accelerates advances in materials engineering, additive manufacturing and data science.
Woodside engineers and Monash researchers together will develop and test prototypes in the laboratory, aiming to lead to new applications for the energy and other industries. State-of-the-art technology includes a selective laser melting (SLM) 3D printer - the most precise and dimensionally correct 3D printer available - capable of manufacturing components used in oil and gas plants.
Monash Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Gardner AO said the University was very pleased to be partnering with one of Australia's leading oil and gas companies.
"This partnership will build on the University's record of innovation in engineering and IT to provide practical solutions for Australian industry.
"The Woodside Innovation Centre demonstrates Monash University's commitment to connecting our world-leading research with industry. We are grateful to Woodside for such a generous contribution to establish the Centre that will have a national and global impact," Professor Gardner said.
The Innovation Centre forms part of Woodside's FutureLab network throughout Australia.
Mr Shaun Gregory, Woodside's Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer welcomed the collaboration.
"Launching an innovation centre at Monash adds to our existing network of FutureLabs at Curtin University and the University of Western Australia in Perth.
"Launched last year, our FutureLabs are building an ecosystem of scientific and technological innovation through collaborations with research institutions, start-ups, entrepreneurs and adjacent leading industries.
"Our vision for our Monash centre is for us to rapidly advance commercial opportunities through materials engineering, additive manufacturing and data science.
"We are really excited about collaborating with researchers and experts from Monash to identify opportunities to solve real-life challenges we face at Woodside," Mr Gregory said.
Professor Frieder Seible, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President (Enterprise) and Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Information Technology said the Innovation Centre demonstrates the capability of Monash researchers to collaborate with industry specialists like Woodside.
"Today's important innovation drivers are New Materials, New Manufacturing Methods, and Data Analytics, exactly the three pillars of the Woodside Innovation Centre. Monash engineering and information technology research and expertise is leading in all three areas, in particular in the additive manufacturing of duplex and super duplex stainless steels. With 3D printed components rapidly coming online, Monash is at the forefront of the next generation of manufacturing capability in Australia.
"In addition, Monash has Australia's most advanced 3-D visualisation environment for fully immersive analytics of big data sets. These leading capabilities provide Woodside engineers, embedded at the Centre's lab, the opportunity to transfer that technology back to the workplace.
"Through this partnership, we will train the next generation of exceptional engineers and IT professionals to deal with tomorrow's challenges and advances," Professor Seible said.
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For more information contact Monash Media & Communications + 61 3 9903 4840 or media@monash.edu
About Woodside
Woodside is an Australian oil and gas company with a global presence, recognised for its world-class capabilities - as an explorer, a developer, a producer and a supplier.
Woodside's producing LNG assets in the north-west of Australia are among the world's best facilities, including the North West Shelf Project and Pluto LNG Plant.
Woodside's proven track record and distinctive capabilities are underpinned by more than 60 years of experience, including more than 30 years of experience as operator of the landmark Australian project, the North West Shelf.
The company's exploration portfolio includes emerging and frontier provinces in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, the Atlantic margins and Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Woodside holds a portfolio of significant interests in Western Australia, Canada and Timor-Leste and a growing network of partnerships.
Woodside's technology strategy is focused on competitive advantage through innovative solutions to business problems. By innovating, Woodside has maintained its position as a leader in the Australia oil and gas industry.
For more information on Woodside, visit http://www.woodside.com.au or follow Woodside on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.