Deakin’s cutting-edge carbon fibre research facility is the winner of the 2017 Powercor Geelong Business Excellence Awards Innovation, Research and Development category.
Carbon Nexus, Deakin University’s globally unique, $34 m research facility was last night recognised for its significant work in industrial-scale carbon fibre research and support for the growth of new carbon fibre-based high-tech firms in Australia.
Established in 1986, the Geelong Business Excellence Awards recognise organisations that have achieved business excellence in the Geelong region. They are the oldest continuously running, and among the most prestigious, business awards in Australia.
The Innovation, Research and Development Category “recognises leadership through the practical application of innovative solutions, research and successful development”.
“As a provider of high-tech research services to the advanced manufacturing sector here in Australia and overseas, the team at Carbon Nexus is focused on exceeding the expectations of a diverse range of clients,” said Carbon Nexus Director Derek Buckmaster.
[testimonial_text]Our clients have already included multi-national carbon fibre producers, start-ups trying to disrupt the industry and academic researchers investigating the fundamental science of carbon fibre processing.[/testimonial_text]
[testimonial_picture name=”Derek Buckmaster” details=”Carbon Nexus Director”]
[/testimonial_picture]Mr Buckmaster said that, in a time when innovation is sometimes held as simply meaning more robots leading to more job losses, the research and development undertaken at Carbon Nexus offered an alternative view that innovation equals new industry, investment and high value jobs in the carbon fibre and supporting industries.
“Our aim is to continue delivering the highest quality research and development services to a growing range of clients – and to encourage them invest in local talent and capacity, growing the economy in Geelong and the surrounding region,” he said.
The Award is the second reason in a matter of months that the Carbon Nexus team has had cause to celebrate.
In June, the facility, which operates within Deakin’s renowned Institute for Frontier Materials, announced a multi-million dollar deal to licence world-first Carbon Nexus technology to US company LeMond Composites.
From 2018, the Awards will be known as the Deakin University Geelong Business Excellence Awards, with Deakin announced as the new naming rights sponsor. Deakin Business School this year sponsored the inaugural Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, won by local businessman Jake Munday.
Published by Deakin Research on 18 August 2017.
