ManuFactures completes expansion

MANUFUTURES in Waurn Ponds has completed an expansion to double its size and now houses more than a dozen businesses that are growing their advanced manufacturing capability.

The new ManuFutures 2 building is located behind the first ManuFutures facility at the Future Economy Precinct at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus.

The expansion will allow new manufacturing incubator programs, training, and product engineering services.

Deakin Research innovations regional manufacturing director Mark Curnow said the completion of ManuFutures2 put Deakin University at the forefront of manufacturing innovation for entrepreneurs, start-ups and existing businesses.

“Our new ManuFutures2 building includes collaborative working spaces, further rental tenancy bays for manufacturing businesses, and an Innoveering Centre that includes product engineering and development capability, and opportunities for research collaboration and integration.

“Four new manufacturing businesses have already moved into the new spaces as tenants, with room for two more. A total of 14 successful and emerging global manufacturing businesses now call Deakin’s ManuFutures home.”

Deakin deputy vice-chancellor Research Professor Julie Owens said ManuFutures demonstrated Deakin’s leadership and success in real world research and commercialisation, in partnership with industry.

“Since opening in 2018, ManuFutures has a successful track record of helping entrepreneurs and start-ups take ideas from paper, to prototype, to emerging global businesses.

“ManuFutures has helped create more than $1 billion in company value, incubated more than 17 advanced manufacturing start-ups, helped companies establish export markets in more than 35 countries, hosted 500 student placements, and created more than 120 advanced manufacturing jobs.”

The expansion was jointly funded by the Victorian government ($10 million) and Deakin ($10 million) as part of part of the Victorian government’s $350 million Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund (VHESIF).

Victorian Minister for Training and Skills, Higher Education, and Agriculture Gayle Tierney said the Victorian government’s investment in ManuFutures through VHESIF was helping to strengthen innovation, training, and industry collaboration in regional Victoria.

“Deakin’s new advanced manufacturing hub provides a space for higher education and industry to collaborate on complex challenges, ensuring opportunities in emerging industries and future jobs for Victoria’s regional communities.”

To learn more about ManuFutures tenancies, training and services, head to deakin.edu.au/manufutures