The University of Sydney is set to lead four significant industry research projects, having recently received grants designed to foster collaboration between academia and industry. These initiatives are part of the Australian Research Council“s (ARC) Linkage Projects scheme, which aims to generate practical solutions for pressing national issues.
Professor Julie Cairney, the interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research at the university, expressed her congratulations to the recipients. She remarked, “The ARC Linkage scheme recognizes the power of collaboration between researchers and the end users of their research in government, industry, or the community to address the challenges facing Australia and the world.” She emphasized that these projects will play a crucial role in facilitating Australia”s transition to green fuels and improving outcomes for Australian workers, highlighting the university”s dedication to research that serves the common good.
One of the projects, led by Associate Professor Stephen Clibborn from the Business School, aims to combat the widespread issue of wage theft. In partnership with the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman, the research will explore the benefits and challenges of collaboration among labor regulators, worker representatives, and businesses. The team anticipates developing new insights to enhance employer compliance with wage laws, which could significantly benefit various stakeholders including state labor regulators and workers.
Another initiative, spearheaded by Professor Rae Cooper from the Business School, involves multiple industry partners including the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association and the Electrical Trades Union of Australia. This research will investigate how early-career experiences influence career intentions among workers in frontline occupations. The findings aim to provide evidence-based strategies to improve job quality and safety, thus alleviating labor shortages and reinforcing economic productivity.
Additionally, Professor Jun Huang, affiliated with the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, is leading a project focused on developing nanostructured catalysts to convert carbon dioxide into synthetic methane, a sustainable green fuel. Collaborating with Seagull Cooling Technologies Asia Pacific and Jneutech Pty Ltd, this project seeks to leverage existing liquefied natural gas infrastructure to facilitate the delivery of green fuels to both domestic and global markets, potentially revolutionizing the green fuel manufacturing process in Australia.
Lastly, Professor Simon Ringer from the School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering will address a critical challenge in the emerging hydrogen economy: hydrogen embrittlement (HE). Collaborating with Kobe Steel and Carl Zeiss, this project aims to deepen the understanding of HE mechanisms and develop high-strength martensitic steels that are resistant to this issue, thus ensuring safer hydrogen storage and transport.
