State Government funds research centre to advance medicines and food manufacturing in Victoria
Image: CSL Manufacturing Facilities in Broadmeadows, Australia. Image Credit: CSL Limited
A new research centre will use digitisation and artificial intelligence (AI) to advance manufacturing capabilities of pharmaceuticals and food in Victoria, a joint initiative between the University of Melbourne and biotechnology company, CSL.
Launched today, the new Faster, Smarter Pharma and Food Manufacturing research centre will assess the potential for improved performance in existing manufacturing facilities, with new digital approaches and custom education to equip a more digitally skilled workforce.
The project has been jointly funded by the State Government’s Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund and CSL.
Centre Director and Professor in the University of Melbourne’s Department of Chemical Engineering, Sally Gras welcomed the funding.
“This initiative will unlock new opportunity for sustainable growth in Victoria’s pharma and food manufacturing sectors, supporting jobs and building resilience in the economy,” Professor Gras said.
This initiative will unlock new opportunity for sustainable growth in Victoria’s pharma and food manufacturing sectors, supporting jobs and building resilience in the economy
“The centre will connect engineering and computing specialists with biopharmaceutical and food industries with the aim to improve manufacturing in Victoria through state-of-the-art research solutions.”
CSL Executive Director of Bioprocess Development, Matthias Zimmermann, spoke of his strong support for the project.
“In addition to showing our commitment to the long-standing partnership CSL has with the University of Melbourne, this funding underscores our important promise to foster a thriving medical research community in Australia and around the world.
“This joint funding initiative is an exciting opportunity to advance local bioprocess engineering and digital capabilities and to support the growth and transformation of Victorian manufacturing,” said Zimmermann.
Including input from five initial industry partners, the program will kickstart a broader initiative by the University of Melbourne to increase engineering and digital skills in manufacturing, better positioning industry for smarter use of manufacturing data and unlocking even greater innovation potential.