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The Hon Jason Clare, Minister for Education, and The Hon Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science, have announced $650 million in funding from the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).ÌýWithin that funding, the Australian National Fabrication Facility will receive $47.4m to address Australia’s strategic science and research priorities, benefit industry and keep Australians at the forefront of scientific innovation.Ìý

Included in ANFF’s 2023 funding is $23m to maintain and upgrade facilities nationwide for projects such as pain free diabetes tests, quantum technology manufacturing and sensors for driverless cars.Ìý

‘These investments allow our world-class universities and researchers to work on game-changing projects that are good for our economy and good for Australia,’ said Minister for Education Jason Clare, ‘This is a strategic investment that will help to deliver the solutions we need for the challenges ahead.’

ANFF-Optofab provides a broad range of photonics and advanced manufacturing capabilities for its clients.

ANFF-SA's Microengineering Winter School

ANFF’s 2023 funding success is in addition to $75m secured under the 2022 Research Infrastructure Investment Plan, taking the total sum to $122.4m for the period of 2023-2028. The NCRIS funding results are an incredible success and validation of what ANFF is contributing to Australia’s national infrastructure and will secure ANFF’s operations for the next five years.Ìý 

‘The NCRIS Projects are highly collaborative and involve over 400 delivery partnerships from the 25 lead projects. Proudly, the ANFF will use these funds to enhance Australia’s economic future by strategically investing into research infrastructure,’ Board Chair Andrew Brawley said.Ìý

The following ANFF activities have been included in this funding round: 

• —  support for our Core national micro- and nanofabrication tools and facilities 
• —  investment to support quantum technologies and defence applications 
• —  development of a business model for how industry can find the right NCRIS project within the NRI ecosystem 
• —  continuation of our ANFF-C platform to help ANFF-derived technologies realise their commercial potential.Ìý

ANFF CEO Dr Jane Fitzpatrick said, ‘The ANFF network, including our 20 university partners, our 150 staff and our 3160 clients, are excited by the latest investment by NCRIS into the nanotechnology future of Australia. These funds will maintain the incredible capabilities that have been developed over the past 16 years and ensure they continue to be at the leading edge of what’s possible.’  

Through ANFF, researchers can access over 500 state-of-the-art nanotechnology fabrication instruments. ANFF supports research in processing nano-scale materials for application in defence, sensors, medical devices, nanophotonics and nanoelectronics, providing an economic benefit for all Australians.Ìý

To read the full joint media release, go to .Ìý