Two UNSW Sydney research projects awarded more than $9m in ARC grants

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Two UNSW Sydney projects providing research into sensors for the health sector and new technologies for Australia’s infrastructure needs have been awarded a total of $9.98 million in Australian Research Council (ARC) grants.

According to UNSW Sydney’s statement, $5 million has been awarded to a hub led by Professor Chun Wang, Head of the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at UNSW Engineering, to co-design, verify, and certify sensors that industry partners will deploy to global health markets.

Professor Wang said the hub aims to position Australia at the forefront of connected health ‘by integrating sensor science with cyber-secure data analytics, regulatory approval and certified manufacturing capabilities’.

“The health sensors will be able to monitor biophysical and biochemical markers to aid rehabilitation and chronic disease management, and support frail, ageing and at-risk populations,” Mr Wang continued.

“By bringing together 30 industry partners and seven universities, the hub aims to build a national end-to-end ecosystem for the design, manufacturing, and commercialisation of clinical-grade sensors and predictive analytics tools.”

A second hub, led by Professor Nasser Khalili, Deputy Head of the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering at UNSW Engineering, has been awarded $4.98 million to deliver technologies that will address Australia’s critical infrastructure needs in the urban, energy and resources sectors.

“The hub will integrate sensor technology, connectivity, data analytics, machine learning, robotics, smart materials, and reliable models,” Professor Khalili noted.

“A frontier arena of research, the hub will provide a fully integrated platform for the development and delivery of next-generation digital technologies for Australia’s infrastructure. The technologies will enable design, real-time performance analysis and life-management of infrastructure,” Prof. Khalili said.

“The hub will solve industry challenges and translate research and development into commercial opportunities and outcomes.”

Image credit: https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-tech/unsw-tops-arc-research-hub-grants