RMIT, Navantia Australia, partner on maritime PhD support

Navantia Australia, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) and the Australian Maritime College (AMC) – University of Tasmania (UTAS), are partnering to fund PhD scholarships to explore, assess and facilitate the development of solutions for engineering challenges and through life-support and future capabilities for the Australian Navy. Navantia Australia, RMIT and AMC will work together to drive innovation and Research and Development (R&D) in a way that supports their shared vision and support national security. The Parties will benefit from access to each other’s expertise and infrastructure, including RMIT’s state-of-the-art facilities, AMC’s advanced maritime research facilities, and Navantia Australia’s industry insights and ability to provide students with real-world experience. The collaboration will see RMIT and AMC join Navantia’s network of academic partners, that includes the University of Technology Sydney and European universities. Under this tri-partite Collaboration Agreement, Navantia Australia, AMC and RMIT have proposed a PhD research projects through the federally funded Next Generation Graduates Program (NGGP) offered by CSIRO/Data 61 to explore hydrodynamic effects for uncrewed surface vessels, and optimisation of hydrogen power plants for uncrewed surface vessels. Navantia Australia and the universities also have bi-party Collaboration Agreements to enable R&D collaborative projects generally. Navantia Australia managing director, Israel Lozano, said “The collaborations between Navantia Australia, RMIT, and AMC is helping to build a new era of Australian sovereign design and future naval operations. This collaboration is a game-changer, empowering Australia to develop cutting-edge solutions that will sustain the existing fleet and build the platforms of tomorrow. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together.” “AMC is excited to be a part of a collaboration where our world-class R&D facilities and academic staff will be utilised to directly contribute to the development of a sovereign maritime innovation capability,” said Mal Wise, AMC Principal. “RMIT is thrilled to offer our best and brightest students the opportunity to work on translational projects that can generate significant impact and value to our partners. It is a great opportunity to train the next generation of engineers and scientists in maritime engineering,” Professor Pier Marzocca, Director, Sir Lawrence Wackett Defence & Aerospace Centre. The Next Generation Graduates Program is a cohort-based, industry driven, multi-disciplinary graduate training program that aims to equip students with entrepreneurial thinking and skill sets that are key to boosting breakthrough innovation in the exciting fields of AI and other emerging technologies. NGGP is addressing Australia’s skills shortage in technologies by providing in-depth training and facilitating collaboration among students, researchers, and industry professionals. The program helps build a competitive and capable workforce that will drive the growth of the Australian tech sector. Navantia Australia also partnered with RMIT’s Sir Lawrence Wackett Defence & Aerospace Centre as a sponsor of a Girls in Aerospace and Defence STEM in September 2023. A group of 40 high school students recently visited Navantia Australia’s Naval Design and Engineering Centre in Docklands, Melbourne, where they participated in a series of STEM activities. Navantia Australia is also a proud member of the Sir Lawrence Wackett Defence & Aerospace Centre Industry Advisory Board. Sir Lawrence Wackett Defence & Aerospace Centre – RMIT is a two-time winner of the Defence Connect Defence Industry Award for Academic Institution of the Year 2021 and 2023. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]