On Wednesday March 18 the Minister for Industry, the Honourable Karen Andrews MP, announced that the SmartCrete CRC was awarded $21 million funding under the Cooperative Research Centre program. The SmartCrete CRC consortium has nearly $90 million of resources which will be deployed to realise the major opportunities for the concrete sector over the next 7 years.
The SmartCrete CRC goal is to ensure the long-term viability of vital existing and future concrete infrastructure through improvement in cost, application and durability, while becoming a catalyst for a step change in whole of life asset management and the sustainability of the supply chain, including reducing our carbon footprint.
Self-healing concrete is one of the SmartCrete CRC's projects
SmartCrete CRC is a truly industry led collaborative research partnership bringing together the leading industry, research, agencies and associations from across Australia and globally, to focus on innovation covering Engineered Solutions, Asset Management and Sustainability.
Core research partner Macquarie University will host the SmartCrete CRC with research projects focussed on improved productivity, applying smart sensing in predictive asset management and the use of recycled materials in the supply chain. Reflecting the close working relationship with industry, SmartCrete CRC will integrate updating Australian Standards, Skills and Capability development, Economic and risk modelling and industry development in all its programs. Direct outcomes of applying new technologies such as 3D printing, AI, sensing and new products will be the development of new industries, and opportunities in Universities and the VET sector, as well as new export markets to meet global supply chain requirements. More information about the SmartCrete CRC is available here.