New Future Industries Facility for Newcastle

The Australian Government, through the department, contributes to the prosperity of the economy and the wellbeing of all Australians by supporting regions to realise their potential and manage their own futures.

The University of Newcastle will receive a $20.7m investment for the construction of two industrial scale spaces for technology innovation.

The Future Industries Facility in Newcastle, NSW, will further establish the city as a hub for innovation, according to the Federal Government.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says this project will boost education, employment and training opportunities for Newcastle and the surrounding region.

The facility will enable the university to provide a problem-solving centre for community and small businesses at a purpose-built innovation facility within its Next Gen Precinct.

It will accommodate up to 16 academic-industry partnerships for rapid technology co-development from research to market across the energy, resources and manufacturing sectors, and the net zero economy.

Focusing on accelerating resource sustainability, workforce training and productivity solutions, the facility will contribute an estimated 740 direct and indirect jobs.

It will also provide students the experience of working on prototyping products for manufacture and give small to medium sized enterprises the ability to collocate and test technology.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King says the Future Industries Facility will build on Newcastle’s vital role as an industrial powerhouse and source of skilled workers.

“Our investment will train the next generation in the latest practices in energy, resources and manufacturing, preparing them for a net-zero future,” she said.

Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon says this investment will secure a bright future for our region, strengthening partnerships between the university and local industry and equipping graduates with the latest skills and practices, as we prepare for the net zero economy.

It is funded through the Federal Government’s regional Precincts and Partnership Program, which is investing $47.9 m to support the transformation of seven precincts across NSW.

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