Monash and CSIRO open new pilot facility to fast-track membrane innovation

Monash University

• Note: Media wishing to attend today's launch and tour the facility can view the event program and register their attendance here 

Monash University and Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, will unveil the new Joint Membrane Pilot Facility at Monash’s Clayton campus today – a national-scale investment that supercharges Australia’s ability to translate world-class membrane research into real-world industrial solutions.

The facility bridges a critical gap between lab-scale breakthroughs and commercial deployment and is housed within the Monash Centre for Membrane Innovation (MCMI) in the New Horizons Building at Monash.

Membranes are essential to many future-focused industries, enabling everything from clean hydrogen production and energy storage to low-waste chemical processing and efficient water purification.

Equipped with a suite of state-of-the-art instrumentation, Professor Matthew Hill, Director of the Monash Centre for Membrane Innovation, said the facility is already being used by academic and industry researchers to refine scalable membrane designs and validate them under real-world operating conditions.

“This isn’t just a facility – it’s a national capability that will accelerate the development of next-generation membrane technologies in areas like water purification, green hydrogen and resource recovery,” said Professor Hill. 

“By embedding research excellence into infrastructure that can test, validate and scale emerging membrane technologies, we’re creating a launchpad for sovereign innovation and international collaboration.”

Dr Zongli Xie, CSIRO Group Leader, Materials for Energy, Environment and Health, said the facility represents a strategic expansion of Monash and CSIRO’s long-standing partnership in membrane science – a collaboration that underpins Australia’s global leadership in next-generation separation technologies for water, energy, critical minerals and circular economy applications.

“Together, Monash and CSIRO offer a complete innovation pipeline – from material design to membrane fabrication, optimisation and scale-up,” said Dr Xie. 

“This facility gives Australian science and industry a shared foundation to rapidly co-develop solutions for the most pressing resource and environmental challenges.

“The pilot facility is the latest chapter in a growing ecosystem that positions Australia as a global player in membrane innovation.” 

In a symposium to be held alongside the launch, key researchers will share insights into emerging trends and challenges in the membrane field. 

Monash and CSIRO acknowledge the support of the Membrane Society of Australasia, whose contribution to the event will help strengthen connections across Australia’s growing membrane innovation ecosystem.

About the Membrane Pilot Facility

The Joint Monash–CSIRO Membrane Pilot Facility offers a unique blend of expertise, infrastructure and access. Equipped with leading-edge instruments – including roll-to-roll membrane coating and casting systems, testing platforms for various membrane types, and high-precision electrochemical analysis tools – the facility supports both short-term testing and long-term R&D partnerships. 

Access is available to Monash researchers, other universities, government agencies and industry, with training and support provided by MCMI’s expert technical team.

monash.edu/mcmi/facility 

ASSETS:

Facility images available here.

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