The Recycling and Clean Energy Commercialisation Hub (REACH)

REACH – the Recycling and Clean Energy Commercialisation Hub based within Deakin University's thriving Future Economy Precinct – is Australia’s largest recycling and clean energy advanced manufacturing ecosystem.

Backed by a $50 million grant from the Federal Government’s inaugural Trailblazer Universities Program, with industry and university support taking the total project value to $380 million, REACH is facilitating the development of greener supply chains and accelerating business success as markets move from a throughput economy to a circular economy.

Through REACH, Deakin is working with progressive industry, government and education partners to establish a multi-billion-dollar bioeconomy in Victoria. Our researchers are working with scientists from CSIRO, other universities and TAFE institutes to push the limits of technological innovation and deliver energy and recycling solutions that reduce landfill, fossil fuel emissions and the devastating costs of global warming.

REACH is leading a sustainable manufacturing revolution that capitalises on Deakin’s expertise in battery technology, carbon fibre, recycling and hydrogen. Creating an exemplar for rapid and successful translation of research into commercialisation, REACH is increasing Australia’s international competitiveness across a range of technologies.

Research-industry partnership projects aim to:

• establish an Australian supply chain for the manufacture of advanced technology batteries with greater energy density and shorter charge times
• build local capacity to store and use hydrogen across a broad technology base
• convert organic and inorganic waste into higher-value products, including a major project to recycle soft plastic in a closed-loop system.

REACH drives scalable pathways for renewable energy and recycled materials and technologies from the laboratory to commercialisation. It draws on cutting-edge research and end-to-end manufacturing capabilities across Deakin’s Waurn Ponds, Burwood and Warrnambool campuses, including:

• ManuFutures – Australia’s leading advanced manufacturing incubator/accelerator hub, providing access to advanced equipment, facilities and programs, and multidisciplinary technology, business and law expertise.
• Institute for Frontier Materials – national leader in materials science research.
• Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation – frontline research and development in robotics, haptics and human machine interfaces.
• Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute – leading-edge research and transformational industry-focused AI.
• BatTRI-Hub – world-class battery technology research, translation and energy storage commercialisation hub.
• Renewable Energy Microgrid – 7.25 megawatt solar energy system and research centre.
• Hycel – one of Australia’s first hydrogen technology testing, manufacturing, optimising and training facilities.
• Carbon Nexus – leading carbon fibre and composite research facility.
• Circular Economy Initiative – multidisciplinary research to drive scalable pathways from the laboratory to commercialisation for new circular materials and technologies.
• Deakin BioFactory – advanced biomanufacturing capability focused on reducing – and developing new processes to convert – organic waste into valuable outputs.
• AquaFI Hub – state-of-the-art aquaculture research and innovation centre.
• Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment – industry-led scientific inquiry across four schools and three strategic research and innovation centres.
• Faculty of Business and Law – robust research and thought leadership across two schools – Deakin Business School and Deakin Law School.

Deakin is a national leader in research commercialisation with a strong intellectual property pipeline, proven production and pilot facilities, and an enviable track record in industry engagement.

Forward estimates indicate that REACH industry partners will generate more than $100 million revenue within five years, thousands of jobs and significant economic value while addressing national manufacturing priorities and major environmental challenges.

Collaboration with universities and TAFE institutes will produce graduates qualified in emerging technologies, with a high number feeding into REACH-affiliated companies.