ACU has joined the Waratah Research Network, a network that connects the NSW government with industry and public universities.
Chaired by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer, Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte, the Waratah Research Network includes multiple state departments, and draws the partner organisations into one body where they can connect directly with each other.
ACU Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research Professor James McLaren said that the inclusion was opportune at a point when the university’s expansion and growth enabled a greater focus on impact-driven research.
“With increasing emphasis in the sector on research-based innovation and commercialisation of research, we are very pleased to be formally part of this network and welcome the opportunity to work with other affiliates. The combination of resources, ingenuity and innovation that each party brings to the collaboration will engineer greater outcomes for our communities.
“The recent opening of our new campus in Blacktown broadens our reach in NSW substantially and gives us a greater role in determining how our research can have social and economic impact where it is most greatly needed.”
The collaboration sets out to ensure research excellence is translated into innovative ideas and evidence-based policies to improve social, economic and environmental outcomes for NSW.
