Businesses faced with materials technology problems can now turn to the new Australian Materials Technology Network (AMTN) for access to world-class diagnostic analysis and solutions.

The new technology network aims to link industry to advanced materials capabilities within universities and research organisations throughout the country.

The Centre for Advanced Materials Technology (CAMT) at Monash University, one of five Australian universities involved, is home to the Victorian node of the network. Other nodes will be based at:

• ANU

• University of NSW

• University of South Australia

• University of Queensland and

• Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Centre in Western Australia.

The nodes will work closely with the Institute of Materials Engineering Australasia (IMEA) and Australia’s Industry Capability Network (ICN).

In launching the national network in Sydney on the 1^st of October, Senator Marise Payne said its establishment marked the "coming of age" of materials technology in Australia. The network has been set up with $2.6 million under the Federal Government’s $3 billion innovation statement, Backing Australia’s Ability. The vision of the network is to bring together Australia’s vast materials technology resources and infrastructure to enhance Australia’s global competitiveness and export markets by providing industry with greater access to expertise, technology, and services available within research institutions.

Based at Monash University, the Victorian branch of the network aims to incorporate other materials technology providers, including several universities (Melbourne, LaTrobe, Deakin, Swinburne, RMIT), CSIRO, DSTO and various commercial providers (e.g. CETEC). A series of workshops and seminars will be staged within Victoria to promote the network to SMEs, and to assist in providing solutions to their materials problems. Suggestions from industry for specific workshop themes are welcomed.

For further details regarding the AMTN, contact the Victorian manager, Dr. Astrid Nordmann (tel: 9905 5791).

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