Since its establishment in 2018, ManuFutures has helped create more than $1 billion in company value, incubated more than 17 advanced manufacturing start-ups, helped companies establish export markets in more than 35 countries, hosted 500 student placements and created more than 120 advanced manufacturing jobs.
The new-look ManuFutures building at Deakin's Waurn Ponds Campus delivers an increased number of tenancy opportunities, new manufacturing incubator programs, training and product engineering services.
Our programs are specific to those who are future entrepreneurs, have a business idea or want to innovate their established business. Find out more about the below programs and sign up.
ManuFutures Ignite is a doorway to the whole of Deakin University, connecting you to a robust network of mentors, academics and researchers and our growing industry network.
ManuFutures Accelerate is a 6-month manufacturing or product development and business program. Your start-up will be able to develop and refine your business strategy and plan.
ManuFutures Engage is for manufacturing SMEs seeking new ways to innovate, improve existing processes and engineering, and grow through product engineering and prototyping.
I don't think I would have had the confidence to take this path without ManuFutures. It has changed my perspective. Issues can become irrelevant quickly because other people have been through them and are happy to share what they've learned. The set-up allows you to speed up the process of taking an idea, turning it into reality and planning for the future.
Nigel Petrie
Engineered to Slide
Our partnerships with government, community and industry allow us to deliver research with impact. We lead bold initiatives that seek solutions beyond traditional research and organisational boundaries.
A unique product engineering service designed to help small to medium-sized manufacturers maximise their competitiveness and create new global market opportunities. ManuFutures Connect provides a doorway to Deakin’s advanced equipment at our Geelong Innovation Centre, and includes bespoke mentoring programs connecting multidisciplinary business, law and technology expertise.
Paintback has chosen ManuFutures, Waurn Ponds Campus, as the location for a pilot plant to repurpose unwanted paint into materials for roads and construction. Research, development and trials with industry partners will test how materials can be extracted from unwanted paint and repurposed into useful materials for use in roads and construction.
In 2023, ManuFutures doubled in size, thanks to funding by the Victorian Government ($10 million) and Deakin University ($10 million) as part of part of the Government's $350 million Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund.
We believe we can do more with people’s unwanted paint, and our presence at ManuFutures is a great opportunity to undertake testing and validation of our lab-scale work, leading towards repurposing the materials in unwanted paint for new applications.
Karen Gomez
Paintback Chief Executive
AquaFI Lab research focuses on sustainable fish production and novel feed and aquaculture technology development.
An innovative research centre focused on advanced battery prototyping and commercialisation.
Our Queenscliff Marine Science Centre has seawater aquarium rooms, a large tank area and a high-performance computing lab.
Deakin’s Digital Futures program aims to accelerate innovation, strategic development and digital transformation on behalf of the Victorian Government.
Deakin’s $9 million Genesis Simulator is the only one of its type in Australia. It offers an immersive simulation experience via a 360-degree, 5-metre-high screen and variable virtual worlds.
One of Australia’s first facilities equipped to manufacture new hydrogen technologies, Hycel is translating research and development into clean energy and transport innovation.
Includes environmental science labs; virtual reality infrastructure and immersive projection mapping facilities; nursing simulation centre; and digital health technologies.
Our Waurn Ponds Campus environment is a ‘living laboratory’ for applied research, it includes a network of ponds, and constructed wetland and irrigation systems.
To discuss potential commercialisation opportunities, or to learn more about ManuFutures, please contact us.
