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Projects funded by the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund

Projects announced that have received funding from the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund.

Projects announced to date that have received funding from the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund are listed below, alongside the amount of funding received. Please note that projects are announced and added to this list on a rolling basis.

Australian Catholic University

Medical Equipment for Research Collaboration with St Vincent's – $2 million

Equipment purchases in collaboration with St Vincent's Institute for Medical Research to undertake metabolic and health research, specifically supporting future treatment for individuals with obesity and diabetes.

Announced: 30 June 2021

Press release: Boosting learning and research at ACUExternal Link

Next-Generation Secure IT Network – $1.8 million

Implementation of a scalable, resilient and secure IT network at Melbourne and Ballarat campuses to support teaching and research, particularly remotely.

Announced: 30 June 2021

Press release: Boosting learning and research at ACUExternal Link

Ballarat Nursing Simulation Ward Refurbishment – $1.9 million

Refurbishment to create a new eight-bed simulation ward (doubling existing capacity) and refurbish the existing Pan Room and Drug Room for clinical nurse training.

Announced: 30 June 2021

Press release: Boosting learning and research at ACUExternal Link

Post-COVID Learning, Teaching and Student Support infrastructure (element 1) – $1.6 million

Upgrading 4 existing learning spaces across the Melbourne and Ballarat campuses to education hubs, transforming education spaces to be more digitally enabled and facilitating mixed-mode and active learning for ACU’s staff and students. This will also support flexible education for students to access courses across ACU campuses and from remote locations.

Announced: 30 June 2021

Press release: Boosting learning and research at ACUExternal Link

Post-COVID Learning, Teaching and Student Support infrastructure (element 2) – $1.4 million

Converting former residential buildings to suit the delivery of academic support services, including upgrading consulting and office spaces, providing culturally safe spaces for Aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse students, and supporting students with special needs by essential work to building fabric and modifications to ensure equitable access.

Announced: 30 June 2021

Press release: Boosting learning and research at ACUExternal Link

Deakin University

ManuFutures 2: Geelong Engineering and Innovation Centre – $10 million

Advanced manufacturing hub located in Geelong, supporting regional businesses to improve competitiveness and create new market opportunities. Accessing Deakin capabilities across all aspects of business from strategy and research to deploying advanced manufacturing technologies.

Announced: 11 March 2021

Press release: Putting Geelong at the heart of advanced manufacturingExternal Link

More information: ManuFutures, DeakinExternal Link

Innovation in Technology, Health and Science – $2 million

Development of an innovation precinct of teaching, learning and research spaces which includes a Nursing and Midwifery Simulation Centre, a Health E‐technologies Assessment (HEAL) research centre and an upgrade of laboratories in Technology and Science disciplines.

Announced: 15 July 2021

Press release: Putting Victoria at the forefront of STEM innovationExternal Link

More information: ITSH, DeakinExternal Link

The DISH: Deakin Innovation for SMEs Hub (renamed Deakin Digital Futures Hub) – $2 million

Development of a collaboration and innovation space with a focus on innovation, adaptation and digital transformation for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in Victoria.

Announced: 11 August 2021

More information: The Digital Futures Hub, DeakinExternal Link

BatTRI-HUB 2.0: Building Victoria’s role in global supply chains for advanced batteries – $5.2 million

New Battery Research and Innovation Hub to further advance battery design, fabrication and testing, and to pilot production of next generation batteries and energy storage.

Announced: 29 June 2021

Press release: Deakin Uni to create world-leading clean energy productsExternal Link

More information: Battery Research and Innovation Hub, DeakinExternal Link

Hycel Tech Hub – $9 million

Construction of a research facility in Warrnambool and funded applied research for the development, testing, demonstration and manufacture of hydrogen fuel technology.

Announced: 29 June 2021

Press release: Deakin Uni to create world-leading clean energy productsExternal Link

More information: Hycel, DeakinExternal Link

AquaFI Hub: Aquaculture and Advanced Feeds Innovation Hub – $4 million

Construct an aquaculture research and innovation centre in Geelong, to support rapid industry development in Victoria, including advanced feed manufacture and innovation.

Announced: 23 April 2021

Press release: Putting Deakin at the forefront of water science researchExternal Link

More information: The AquaFI Hub, DeakinExternal Link

Queenscliff Marine Science Centre – $1 million

Upgrade to the teaching and research facilities at Queenscliff Marine Science Centre to establish a centre of excellence for temperate water marine research in Victoria.

Announced: 23 April 2021

Press release: Putting Deakin at the forefront of water science researchExternal Link

More information: Deakin Queenscliff Marine Science Centre, DeakinExternal Link

Integrated Water Management – $1 million

Investment in improved water sustainability at the Waurn Ponds campus to respond to significant water-related challenges and demonstrate sustainable practices.

Announced: 23 April 2021

Press release: Putting Deakin at the forefront of water science researchExternal Link

More information: IWM, DeakinExternal Link

Next-Gen Simulator (motion simulator platform) – $5 million

Simulation platform to support advanced research into automotive design, transport prototyping and driver safety, including autonomous mobility technologies, in partnership with Ford.

Announced: 6 October 2021

Press release: Driving the future of car manufacturing in GeelongExternal Link

Website: Next Generation Motion Simulator, DeakinExternal Link

Circular Economy Accelerator-Organics (CEAO) project – $10 million

Establishing a BioFactory at Waurn Ponds to pilot and test new processes to use marine by-products, food and agricultural waste. The Deakin BioFactory will develop new products such as protein-rich feed, nutritional ingredients, fertiliser, cosmetic ingredients and biomaterials for medical and textile applications.

This project is implemented in collaboration with RMIT and Monash University.

Announced: 18 March 2022

Press release: Deakin launches new BioFactory as part of Circular Economy Accelerator-Organics projectExternal Link

More information: The Deakin BioFactory, DeakinExternal Link

University of Divinity

St Paschal’s Campus Development – $500,000

Small scale capital works to establish a long-term home for the University of Divinity at St Paschal's Precinct, 90 Albion Road, Box Hill. The property renovations include classrooms, office space, seminar and conference facilities and a new School of Indigenous Studies.

Announced: 11 May 2021

Press release: National-first Indigenous theology course at new centreExternal Link

Federation University

Business Centre of Excellence, including IBM Watson IoT Facility – $9.5 million

Development of an enhanced Business Centre of Excellence, located in a renovated heritage building in Ballarat CBD with dedicated facilities and applied research, particularly focusing on Internet of Things (IoT).

Announced: 29 January 2021

Press release: New Federation Business Centre of Excellence in BallaratExternal Link

Ballarat University Town – $2.25 million

Funding to support community engagement and business case development of a Master Plan, activating the town centre, improving the student experience and enabling better business engagement. Funding includes works at Federation University’s Jobs and Technology Precinct in Ararat which will connect the precinct to Federation’s Business Centre of Excellence in Ballarat.

Announced: 17 September 2021

Press release: An education transformation for central BallaratExternal Link

Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre – Wellness Centre – $1.1 million

A student-led clinic will deliver wellness services (including physiotherapy, exercise physiology, occupational therapy and speech pathology) to the community, in partnership with Latrobe City Council.

Announced: 15 October 2021

Press release: New wellness centre to train Gippsland health expertsExternal Link

La Trobe University

Bio-Innovation Hub – $8 million

Research equipment, labs and offices to support startups and SMEs conducting early-stage lab-based research and support commercialisation of research.

Announced: 15 March 2021

Press release: New science hubs to support bio and tech innovationExternal Link

Digital Innovation Hub – $9 million

Integrated industry, research and teaching hub to support businesses to grow and transform through digital technology.

Announced: 15 March 2021

Press release: New science hubs to support bio and tech innovationExternal Link

Agriculture Production Platform – $3.5 million

Enhancements to existing infrastructure to support the industry in transforming seed, crop and medicinal agriculture innovations from early-stage development to full-scale pilot production.

Announced: 28 June 2021

Press release: Investing in research to grow our agriculture sectorExternal Link

Bendigo Teaching and Research Labs – $2.5 million

Expansion of laboratories at Bendigo campus to support course delivery, research and local industry involvement.

Announced: 25 June 2021

Applied Industry Agri Platforms – $6.5 million

Development of lab facilities and infrastructure to support Victoria's agriculture businesses in discovering and subsequent commercialisation of products in horticulture, medicinal agriculture and protected crops.

Announced: 28 June 2021

Press release: Investing in research to grow our agriculture sectorExternal Link

Virtual Care/Telehealth – $1.6 million

Refurbish existing teaching and internal-clinic spaces to deliver telehealth training and clinical facilities in Bundoora and Bendigo.

Announced: 5 August 2021

University of Melbourne

The Advanced Genomics Collaboration (previously lllumina-UoM Genomics Hub) – $20 million

The Hub is set to elevate local genomics research and clinical trials to a global scale by establishing 3 core platforms in clinical genomics, bioinformatics and health economics.

Announced: 4 December 2020

Press release: Illuminating investment in medical research and jobsExternal Link

More information: The Advanced Genomic CollaborationExternal Link

Neo-Bionica (Bionic Devices Development Facility) – $4 million

Facilities to conduct research into human-grade medical implants and manufacture devices at a sufficient scale to enable clinical translation and commercialisation.

Announced: 29 September 2021

Press release: New laboratory to support local medical innovationsExternal Link

More information: neo-bionicaExternal Link

Faster, Smarter Pharma and Food Manufacturing – $1.8 million

Working with industry, create a new research centre to improve and optimise pharma and food advanced manufacturing

Announced: 28 September 2021

Press release: Boosting medicine and food manufacturing in VictoriaExternal Link

NorVicFoods: Agri-food Innovation Cluster – $2.7 million

A new venture to transform and grow the agri-food sector in the Hume region through working with agri-food businesses to deliver specific research aimed at solving operational challenges.

Announced: 8 September 2021

Press release: Driving innovation in the Goulburn Valley fruit bowlExternal Link

More information: NorVicFoods, University of MelbourneExternal Link

Zero Emissions Energy Lab – $4.7 million

Platform to develop and commercialise clean energy technologies with industry partners, including support for startups.

Announced: 2 August 2021

Press release: New CBD precinct spearheads social and digital innovationExternal Link

Melbourne Connect – Innovation and Incubation – $6 million

Funding for university-industry engagement, research and commercialisation activity in digital sectors at Melbourne Connect.

Announced: 2 August 2021

Press release: New CBD precinct spearheads social and digital innovationExternal Link

More information: MelbconnectExternal Link

Monash University

Smart Manufacturing and Commercialisation Hub – $16.1 million

Capital works and research infrastructure to extend the current advanced manufacturing in biomedical innovation and pharmaceutical sciences at the Monash Parkville campus through to the Monash Clayton campus. Creating smart manufacturing, a startup incubator and collaboration space that will provide the industry with early access to Monash’s research and student talent pipeline.

Announced: 1 September 2021

Press release: New Monash hubs to boost COVID vaccine manufacturingExternal Link

Family Violence Workforce Pathways and Access to Justice – $8.67 million

Refurbishing part of the Menzies Building, Clayton campus to provide dedicated research facilities and office space and funding 24 scholarships for family violence victim-survivors to undertake a Graduate Certificate of Family Violence Prevention.

  1. to generate the evidence-based needed and the practice tools required to ensure that women who have experienced family violence can successfully re-engage with paid work and where desired contribute to family violence advocacy, policy and practice reform.
  2. to develop a suite of analysis reports for government and the family violence sector
  3. to build an evidence base on how public sector workplaces can enhance gender equality within the workplace.

Announced: 24 May 2021

Press release: Providing better pathways for family violence survivorsExternal Link

Health Innovation Centre – $17.5 million

Create a new collaborative research facility to enhance the development of innovative ideas and enable a ‘virtual front-door' for clinical research trials, specifically focused on cardiovascular disease and investment attraction. It will also act as an industry collaboration and commercialisation accelerator and business incubator by engaging sponsors, investors and partners with access to public and private health providers.

Announced: 22 September 2021

Press release: National First centre to drive heart health researchExternal Link

Net Zero Initiative – $11 million

Upgrading several Monash campus buildings to reduce their emissions by optimising their energy usage. For example, by using a distributed energy generation and storage at an on-site microgrid. This project is supporting Monash to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 and will be a leading demonstration and training site for low emissions technologies.

Announced: 20 October 2021

Press release: Helping Monash University slash emissions to net zeroExternal Link

Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation – $1,005,100

Develop research infrastructure to advance expertise in medicinal chemistry and compound optimisation to meet the demands of national drug discovery programs.

Announced: 6 April 2022

Press release: New microscope revolutionises critical medical researchExternal Link

Victorian Node of Microscopy Australia – $2,800,000

Deliver next-generation research infrastructure capabilities by way of a 300keV dedicated cryo-TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope) for structural and cellular biomedical advances. Enabling major drug discovery programs and breakthroughs in advanced manufacturing, new materials, energy storage and new electronic devices.

Announced: 6 April 2022

Press release: New microscope revolutionises critical medical researchExternal Link

Capital Upgrade of the ANFF (Victorian Node) – $3,476,550

Upgrade capacity and equipment at the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) Victoria Node. Supporting small-scale manufacturing and prototyping from early development through to direct translation and commercialisation of technologies in medical research, advanced manufacturing and renewable energy.

Announced: 6 April 2022

Press release: New microscope revolutionises critical medical researchExternal Link

Victorian node Platforms of Bioplatforms Australia (Victorian node) – $9,775,000

Build new research infrastructure for the development of metabolomics and proteomics to revolutionise how antibody and small molecule drugs bind to targets, particularly in the context of cancer and infectious diseases. The research will also provide critical quality control outcomes in the context of drugs that contain lipid nanoparticles.

Announced: 6 April 2022

Press release: Monash-led projects awarded $17 million in VHESIF fundingExternal Link

RMIT University

CBD North – Precinct Activation and Innovation Spine – $14.36 million

Master planning and development within RMIT's CBD North Precinct, including the establishment of the Multifaith and Wellbeing Centre and the Asia Trade and Innovation Hub.

Announced: 22 June 2021

Press release: RMIT projects to spark new life in city north precinctExternal Link

Digital and Business Transformation – $6.68 million

Includes a range of digital-based initiatives and infrastructure including high-performance supercomputing infrastructure and digital support for industry, including improving safety in workplaces through digitisation and enhancing data analytics capability.

Announced: 22 June 2021

Press release: RMIT projects to spark new life in city north precinctExternal Link

Social Innovation – $13.87 million

Research into social-based innovation including digital health/medical systems, the justice system, social services and enterprises and developing digital biosciences facilities.

Announced: 22 June 2021

Press release: RMIT projects to spark new life in city north precinctExternal Link

Future Industry Transformation – $9.69 million

Establish applied research hubs focused on the circular economy, digital industry, advanced manufacturing and the space industry.

Announced: 22 June 2021

Press release: RMIT projects to spark new life in city north precinctExternal Link

Supporting the Electrification of Victoria’s Future Fleet – $5.2 million

Infrastructure for an electric vehicle living lab and the initiation of 4 applied research streams to study the technical and legal aspects of public and private fleet electrification.

Announced: 15 February 2022

Press release: Developing clean, green transport options for VictoriaExternal Link

Victorian Medical Device Prototyping and Scale-Up Facility – $12.7 million

Design and construction of a medical device prototyping facility that will allow entrepreneurs, researchers and industry to prototype and manufacture wearables, nearables and flexibles for personalised and preventative healthcare and diagnostics.

Announced: 15 August 2022

Press release: Swabs away – wearable tech gives instant COVID check | Premier of VictoriaExternal Link

Swinburne University of Technology

MedTechVic – $6.7 million

Develop a Framework that supports the supply chain for assistive technologies (that support people to participate in work, education and social activities), from the ideation and identification of new product opportunities through to clinical validation and end-user testing, feedback and potential for local manufacturing.

Announced: 10 September 2021

Press release: Australian-first MedTech project improves Victorian livesExternal Link

Victorian Hydrogen Hub (VH2) – $10 million

Construction and commissioning of a hydrogen refuelling station in partnership with CSIRO. Impact PhD and Masters projects to help decarbonise industries such as ports, steel, aviation, as well as cutting-edge research on hydrogen tanks and storage. Implementation of an Industry Readiness Program, incorporating a major study into the skills and training required for a future hydrogen economy and community engagement programs to boost public awareness and education. Also establishing hydrogen partnerships in international jurisdictions such as Germany, Korea, Malaysia and the USA.

Announced: 7 February 2021

Press release: Hydrogen Hub Cements Victoria As Clean Energy LeaderExternal Link

Woiwurrung named Supercomputing Facility (OzSTAR Upgrade) – $5.2 million

Supercomputing facility that will continue to operate as an NCRIS-funded national facility for astronomy.

Announced: 1 February 2022

Press release: New supercomputer to herald next generation of discoveriesExternal Link

Aerostructures Innovation Research (AIR) Hub – $12 million

Victoria will be the home of an Australian-first advanced manufacturing research hub for aircraft parts and vertical lift aerostructures. Aerostructures Innovation Research (AIR) Hub will research and develop next-generation aircraft components, enhance aircraft wings, develop technologies for driverless passenger, cargo and medical vehicles as well as explore clean, green air travel.

The project will also work to upskill the tech workforce by bringing together multi partner collaborative development projects for Victoria’s aerospace future

Announced: 6 November 2021

More information: The only way is up for aerospace innovation in VictoriaExternal Link

Victoria University

Education Innovation Hub – $8.8 million

A group of multiple applied research projects that will deliver action research solutions to reduce transition barriers and increase student success across educational offerings in higher education and vocational education and training.

By co-designing research-based solutions, including innovations for micro-credentials, ‘stackable blocking’ across higher education and VET/TAFE, and workplace-integrated learning, the Education Innovation Hub is increasing understanding of, and solutions for, the transition barriers that prevent students from reaching their potential and thereby reducing the availability of trained workers.

Announced: 24 August 2021

Press release: Community research hubs to bolster Melbourne’s westExternal Link

Jobs and Skills Innovation Hub – $2.6 million

A group of 4 applied research projects that will facilitate the development and implementation of solutions to support skills and job growth, as well as safe and inclusive work environments in Melbourne’s West.

Announced: 24 August 2021

Press release: Community research hubs to bolster Melbourne’s westExternal Link

Stronger Communities Innovation Hub – $5.8 million

A group of 4 applied research projects focused on improving the health, wellbeing and resilience of socially disadvantaged communities in Melbourne’s West.

Announced: 24 August 2021

Press release: Community research hubs to bolster Melbourne’s westExternal Link

Sustainable Futures Innovation Hub – $4.9 million

A group of 4 applied research projects focused on responsible consumption and production practices in the water, construction and packaging industries to support the advancement of the circular economy and waste reduction.

Announced: 15 April 2021

Press release: New innovation hub to create sustainable future todayExternal Link

Reviewed 23 August 2023

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