South Australia Rolls Out Photonics Catalyst Program

November 22, 2013—The University of Adelaide in South Australia and its Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) announced this month the formation of the Photonics Catalyst Program, a joint initiative between IPAS and the Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy (DMITRE). The program joins the university, government and local manufacturers to promote and incorporate emerging technologies such as lasers, sensors and other photonics technologies into their businesses.

The Photonics Catalyst Program, funded by a grant of AUD$500,000 over two years, aims to drive innovation, create new local jobs and foster collaboration between IPAS researchers and local industry. The program will provide 10 new projects worth up to AUD$45,000 to connect manufacturers with R&D services and new prototype development.

Tanya Monro, director of IPAS, cited as an example an investment of the local wine industry in R&D of advanced photonic sensing technology at IPAS to enable more efficient and cost-effective monitoring of the wine-making process in real-time.