Update on Trailblazer program

The UNSW SMaRT Centre has signed the Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy (TRaCE) program's first foundational partner, Kandui Technologies.

The first company to become an official MICROfactorie™ licensee, Kandui will commercialise technologies developed by SMaRT and its Director, Professor Veena Sahajwalla, the recycling theme leader for TRaCE.

Kandui’s initial product line from SMaRT's technologies, Green Ceramics are a new generation of high-performance engineered materials, used for functional surfaces, furniture and other applications.

Other TRaCE developments are that The University of Newcastle has signed an $18 million contract with Element One to fast-track green ammonia for real-world use, and UNSW has partnered with Virescent Ventures to deliver the Climate 10x Accelerator. 

UNSW President and Vice Chancellor Prof Attila Brungs (pictured above, second right)  joined a tour of the Kandui site commercialising some of SMaRT's technologies, along with TRaCE Executive Director, Professor Emmanuel Mastio (second left), Veena, SMaRT Head of MICROfactorie Technologies Anirban Ghose (left), Kandui boss Andrew Douglas (third from right), and representatives from partner Shoalhaven Council.

Prof Mastio said: "I join this initiative after holding several senior research translation positions in both industry and university settings. My most recent position as Research Commercialisation Consultant and IP Advisor for the Future Fuels Cooperative involved articulating translation strategies to enable the decarbonisation of Australia’s energy networks."

"TRaCE has immense potential to accelerate the development of critical skills and technologies for the recycling and clean energy industry. Between government, university and our valued industry partner contributions, the TRaCE program is expected to deliver a $280 million investment into Australia's next-generation resources and technologies. That investment will be critical in our efforts to create good jobs, affordable clean energy, and enable sovereign manufacturing."

Prof Mastio said these three new signings are milestones that epitomise the TRaCE purpose: to accelerate research and product development with our industry partners and build critical skills for the recycling and clean energy industries.

Teams from UNSW and the University of Newcastle continue to progress research contracts and work with key stakeholders to plan activities in line with TRaCE's strategic focus areas.

Visit SMaRT's TRaCE webpage