WA angles for its own Fraunhofer-Institut

The state government is spending nearly $500,000 evaluating the establishment of a German innovation institute in WA to accelerate the take-up of clean energy and support decarbonization.

It has awarded a $170,222 contract to Germany’s Fraunhofer-Institut for a feasibility study for Western Australia.

The government has also awarded a $297,000 contract to Adelaide consultancy Research Technology Strategy (RTS), which will provide ‘on-ground’ support for Fraunhofer throughout the feasibility study.

The contracts, awarded by the Department of Jobs Tourism Science and Innovation, were disclosed on tenders.wa.gov.au.

A government spokesperson said its aim was to establish an ‘innovation platform’ that would accelerate clean technology, decarbonisation and the energy transition in Western Australia and beyond.

The spokesperson explained that RTS was selected as it has previous experience working with Fraunhofer.

Its role will include facilitating engagement with local stakeholders.

RTS has also been tasked with mapping the ‘energy transition ecosystem’ in WA.

The feasibility study has been launched at a time when governments around the world are struggling to marshal the people and skills needed to support the transition to renewable energy.

Proponents of ‘giga scale’ projects in WA, such as the Western Green Energy Hub and the Australian Renewable Energy Hub, are keen to foster the development of a local supply chain.

That would include the high-volume manufacture of wind turbine blades, solar panels and various components.

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft describes itself as the world’s leading applied research organization.

Founded in 1949, it operates 76 institutes and research units throughout Germany.

Its international operations include the Fraunhofer Center for Solar Energy Technologies in Chile, the Fraunhofer Project Center for Composites Research in Canada and a subsidiary in Singapore.

It has around 30,800 employees, predominantly scientists and engineers, and an annual research budget of roughly €3.0 billion, most of which is designated as contract research.

“By prioritizing key technologies for the future and commercializing its findings in business and industry, it plays a major role in the innovation process,” its web site states.

“A trailblazer and trendsetter in innovative developments and research excellence, it is helping shape our society and our future.”

Fraunhofer inspired the establishment of a similar body in the UK – Catapult is a network of technology and innovation centres established by Innovate UK.

Both organisations provided a model for a recently completed Australian government program known as the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre.

The AMGC has invested $57 million into 141 industry projects.

This has spurred further private sector and industry funding, creating a total funding pool of $137 million.

WA companies backed by AMGC include micro data centres manufacturer Zella DC, Segnut, which is developing a new type of fastener, Alcolizer, which has developed an innovative drug and alcohol testing device, and Cellr, which has developed ‘smart’ bottle caps.

AMGC has tracked 31 completed projects and found substantial economic benefits.

These include increased revenue of $188 million, including $52 million in export sales.

Across all its projects, the investee companies are projecting $1.62 billion in sales revenue.

Editor’s note: To read more about Zella DC and the AMGC program, see the current edition of the Business News magazine.