Fraunhofer IWS Deepens Cooperation with RMIT University and Swinburne University of Technology in Australia

New Impulses for Advanced Manufacturing

News – Fraunhofer IWS Dresden /

The Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS strengthens its international position in advanced manufacturing. To this end, Prof. Christoph Leyens signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with RMIT University and Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. Both agreements build on existing technical collaborations and create a framework for the targeted transfer of research results, system engineering, and industrial applications into international markets.

Professor Calum Drummond AO, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation and Vice-President; Professor Catherine Itsiopoulos, Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President of RMIT University; and Professor Christoph Leyens, Director of Fraunhofer IWS (from left to right), signed a memorandum of understanding covering research exchange, joint development projects, and the expansion of international innovation structures.
© RMIT University
Professor Calum Drummond AO, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation and Vice-President; Professor Catherine Itsiopoulos, Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President of RMIT University; and Professor Christoph Leyens, Director of Fraunhofer IWS (from left to right), signed a memorandum of understanding covering research exchange, joint development projects, and the expansion of international innovation structures.
Professor Allen Duffy, Pro Vice-Chancellor at Swinburne University of Technology, and Professor Christoph Leyens (from left to right) established a framework for research visits, joint projects, and the integration of technological solutions into industrial value chains by signing a memorandum of understanding.
© Swinburne University of Technology
Professor Allen Duffy, Pro Vice-Chancellor at Swinburne University of Technology, and Professor Christoph Leyens (from left to right) established a framework for research visits, joint projects, and the integration of technological solutions into industrial value chains by signing a memorandum of understanding.

The collaboration with RMIT University dates back to the early beginnings of the Ultragrain approach and the ICON program, in which additive manufacturing, process control, and materials development were closely interlinked. This successful cooperation now forms the foundation for continued and expanded joint activities in advanced manufacturing.

“We combine our expertise in laser materials processing and additive manufacturing with strong partners in the Australian research ecosystem. Our goal is to accelerate the transfer of laser materials processing and additive manufacturing technologies into industrial applications while acting as a technical transmission belt for German companies in the Australian market,” emphasizes Prof. Christoph Leyens, Director of Fraunhofer IWS.

Partnership with RMIT University Strengthens Advanced Manufacturing in Australia

The MoU with RMIT University was signed jointly with Professor Catherine Itsiopoulos, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation. The agreement focuses on research exchange, joint development projects, and the expansion of international innovation structures. RMIT University builds on a long-standing partnership with Fraunhofer and highlights the continuity in scientific collaboration:

“With Fraunhofer, we share the understanding that future-ready production technologies can only emerge from the interplay of research depth, process intelligence, and industrial implementation. The renewed partnership lays the foundation for new projects and enables us to connect the respective strengths of both institutions in advanced manufacturing even more effectively,” says Itsiopoulos.

New Research Axes with Swinburne University of Technology

Fraunhofer IWS also intensifies its cooperation with Swinburne University of Technology. The focus lies on laser materials processing and surface science and engineering. The MoU creates opportunities for research stays, joint projects, and the integration of technological solutions into industrial value chains.

Prof. Alan Duffy emphasizes: “The cooperation with Fraunhofer provides us with access to European high-end system technology and opens up new perspectives for bilateral development projects. We see great potential in jointly accelerating industrial innovation.”

Joint Projects Strengthen Industrial Transformation on Two Continents

Both agreements underline Fraunhofer IWS’s ambition to further develop technologies in laser materials processing, coating solutions, metrology, and additive manufacturing on a global scale and to make them accessible to industry. These international partnerships help to connect technological expertise across continents and to sustainably shape transformation processes in industrial applications.