Navantia Australia, UTS form joint research institute

Navantia Australia and University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have formed an industry-led joint research institute to develop digital technologies. The Joint Institute is part of UTS and will promote academic and future workforce engagement in commercial projects with Navantia Australia. Internships, PhD and graduate employment opportunities will also be offered to UTS students, increasing opportunities within the Australian Defence Industry labour market.

Navantia Australia’s Managing Director Israel Lozano said, “The research and development focus of the Institute will bring together UTS and Navantia Australia’s research expertise, as well as Engineering and IT Solutions development capability, to provide an innovative approach that will deliver impact for Australia.”

Vice-Chancellor of UTS, Professor Andrew Parfitt, said: “UTS prides itself on our ability to engage with industry and generate real world solutions to commercial problems. Our partnership with Navantia is a fantastic opportunity for our students and academics to engage with a major maritime engineering company in the heart of our campus and contribute to Australia’s sovereign capability in the maritime sector.”

The Institute will promote activities that will provide world-class and commercially relevant research and development (R&D) outcomes and Intellectual Property to Navantia Australia.  It will involve building relationships with the Australian Defence sector, Navantia Australia’s commercial partners and supply chain and securing research grants.

Digital technology for the naval industry will be showcased at UTS’s Ultimo campus, in the heart of Sydney’s innovation precinct, Tech Central, in a visitor space.

NSW Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Stuart Ayres said the initiative is another example of how the Tech Central precinct is supporting NSW to be at the forefront of innovation.

“The defence and aerospace sector across NSW is critical to our economic strength and our world-leading universities and research institutions play a large role in helping grow the industry and jobs through their innovative ideas and technologies,” Mr Ayres said.

Navantia Australia R&D has pledged to initially fund the Institute, with future funding expected from commercial projects involving Navantia Australia, Defence and relevant Australian government grants. The Institute will be governed through a Steering Committee and under the direction of a salaried Director.