The $8 million in funding for the Tech Central Research and Innovation Infrastructure Fund will be provided to the following facilities:
Advanced Prototype Packaging Facility
Applicant: University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
Funding: $3 million
Infrastructure: An Australian first, the Advanced Prototype Packaging Facility (APPF) will be developed across two locations (UTS and The University of Sydney) in the heart of Tech Central to develop commercial grade packaged semiconductor and photonic device prototypes at low to mid-volumes. The APPF will establish a comprehensive suite of tools for prototype packaging development, including testing and qualification capabilities, and cutting across technology platforms. It will service a broad cross-section of Tech Central priority industries, including quantum computing, robotics, automation, advanced communications and smart devices (e.g. Internet of Things), aerospace/space and defence technologies, and biotechnology/medtech.
Alternate Protein Application Centre
Applicant: The University of Sydney
Funding: $2.2 million
Infrastructure: Critical infrastructure and technologies will be developed for an Alternate Protein Application Centre (APAC) at Tech Central, South Eveleigh. APAC will be a technology discovery centre for ALT proteins and ingredients with scalable designs that offer pilot volume manufacturing capabilities to the NSW food and beverage sectors (FBS). The ALT protein food sector is highly technology driven and reliant on metropolitan-based skills and localised adoption markets. APAC will provide the necessary facilities to deliver new ALT protein foods at a location linked to the rapidly evolving NSW ALT protein food industries. The facility will contain the necessary equipment for the FBS to conduct R&D in alternative protein production, extraction, texturisation and food-focused product development.
Vaccine and RNA Design Centre
Applicant: University of Technology Sydney
Funding: $1.4 million
Infrastructure: The Vaccine and RNA Design Centre (VRDC) will be developed within the Tech Central ecosystem, overcoming a key capability gap in NSW Government RNA investments. In addition to complementing this ecosystem, the VRDC will provide a sovereign mRNA vaccine and RNA therapeutic design capability. Resulting mRNA vaccines and other designs will be the foundation of novel intellectual property (IP) developed within NSW, supporting the formation of commercial endeavours and/or joint ventures to bring these RNA molecules to market.
The Tech Central Human Augmentation Lab (HAL)
Applicant: ARIA Research Pty Ltd
Funding: $1.4 million
Infrastructure: The Human Augmentation Laboratory (HAL) is an industry-led, large-scale, multi-use facility that provides critical and common infrastructure to AI, medtech, space, robotics, and digital creative sectors with a focus on applied research translation and commercialisation. HAL will provide Tech Central with affordable and, for students and startups, free access to world-class facilities for research translation of deep-tech innovations. The aim of the HAL is to provide currently unavailable infrastructure and create fertile ground to nurture new research translation by Tech Central startups, SMEs, academics and corporates, well beyond the activities of the consortium members.