Education

GE Additive and University of Sydney sign agreement to advance metal additive manufacturing

A 10 year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed this month by GE Additive and the University of Sydney. Under the terms of the agreement GE Additive will invest an annual figure of up to $1 million. The funds will be used to support R&D activity related to materials and powder technologies, sensor technology and image processing analytics.

Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Dr Michael Spence said, “This MoU builds on the University’s world-class expertise in the disciplines essential to advanced manufacturing such as materials engineering and integrated digital systems,”

“By partnering with GE Additive, an industry leader in additive manufacturing, we can set the agenda for this disruptive technology and ensure that Australia is primed to both participate in, and contribute to, this exciting next phase of the industrial revolution. The collaboration will drive the R&D needed to learn how this dispruption to manufacturing can be harnessed for economic benefit. We are especially delighted that this initiative aligns with our plan to establish a new campus at Parramatta/ Westmead, where advanced manufacturing will be a key focus,” added Dr Spence.

The GE Additive Arcam EBM Spectra H
The GE Additive Arcam EBM Spectra H

Speaking about the rationale behind the decision, Debbra Rogers, chief commercial officer, GE Additive said, “We were immediately impressed by the University of Sydney’s vision for additive manufacturing – not just at an academic level, but also because they understand the positive impact this technology can have on Australia’s economy and its workforce in the very near future,”

“Additive requires a completely different way of engineering and thinking. Educating and training current workforces with new skills and also getting more engineers into additive takes time and programs need to be developed over a number of years. The University of Sydney recognises this and that in order to build the right mindset, the right skills, the right materials we need to encourage close collaboration between companies, academia and governments,” said Rogers.

Other areas of cooperation between GE Additive and the University of Sydney include:

Funding from GE Additive to drive new R&D into material and powder technologies, sensing and analytics – building on the university’s existing advanced manufacturing and materials science research capabilities and infrastructure. The development of new applications and potentially new additive manufacturing industries that will drive positive commercial and economic impact and bilateral access to GE Additive‘s and the University of Sydney’s local and global networks of academic, industry and government stakeholders.

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