Monash Uni inks a deal with Chinese aviation company Thursday, 18 May 2017

Monash University has secured a research and development partnership with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC).

The university signed a memorandum of understanding with COMAC in Shanghai earlier this week.

Monash President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Gardner said the agreement demonstrated the university’s importance as an international hub for collaboration and innovation.

“Monash makes a tremendous contribution to the Australian economy through its global networks, research and education excellence and world class research infrastructure,” she said.

“The Memorandum of Understanding with COMAC is welcome recognition of Monash University’s ability to translate that expertise into real impact and benefit for Australia and our international partners.”

Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Frieder Seible, said that Monash’s leading position in additive manufacturing facilitated the training of exceptional engineers who will drive future innovation.

“The Monash Centre for Additive Manufacturing (MCAM) leads the development of new 3D printed alloys that are lighter and stronger than anything currently available enabling safer and more efficient aircraft,” Seible said.

“Through this agreement, Monash and COMAC will collaborate on the design of specialised new 3D printed alloy components for aerospace applications, including the design and construction of COMAC’s new C919 commercial passenger airliner.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews also attended the signing of the agreement in Shanghai. He said his state was well positioned to service China’s rapidly growing aviation and aerospace industry with more than 300 Victorian businesses currently supplying products and services to domestic and international defence markets, including the global supply chains of international defence contracts. And he was excited that the deal will create highly specialised new jobs for budding engineers in Victoria.

“Not only is this partnership with COMAC an exciting opportunity to promote our research and manufacturing capabilities on the world stage – it will also create 50 Victorian jobs,” the Premier said.

“The work being done at Monash is world leading and cements Victoria’s reputation as a global centre of excellence for the aviation and aerospace industries.”

[The Monash 3D printed jet engine in Shanghai this week. Photo: Monash Uni]

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