Future-proofing Geelong

Deakin's role in helping future-proof the Geelong region was on display in July with the opening of the second stage of a $103 million research and innovation centre on the Waurn Ponds campus by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research and Minister for Higher Education, Senator Kim Carr.

The centre is a collaboration between Deakin, CSIRO and the Victorian Centre for Advanced Materials Manufacturing (VCAMM).

Deakin's Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander said this next stage in the development of AFFRIC, the Australian Future Fibres Research and Innovation Centre, was a major milestone not just for Deakin but also for the changing face of manufacturing in Geelong.

Carbon Nexus will also form a vital part of the future-proofing.

"This is the most ambitious project the University has undertaken," Professor den Hollander said at the opening.

"We welcome the co-location of CSIRO's Belmont Operations to here to generate even more collaborations

"This has the capacity to increase the output of both our organisations.

"We also have I believe the beginnings of a whole new range of innovative industries in Geelong, based here in this facility."