Goal 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Goal 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

By advancing resilient and sustainable infrastructure and fostering innovation through collaboration, RMIT helps shape future cities and industries.

RMIT contributes to innovation and sustainable development through research, technology, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration. 

The University works with partners across government, business and the community to develop solutions that address complex economic, environmental and technological challenges. 

Through applied research, research translation, startup support and innovation programs, RMIT helps strengthen industry capability, advance new technologies and support sustainable infrastructure and economic development.

Highlights of recent SDG 9 aligned activity are included below, with more information available in our 2025 Sustainability Annual Report (PDF 13 MB), with our 11 years of reporting progress outlined on the Sustainability Annual Report webpage.

Broader sustainability contributions are also highlighted in our organisational Annual Report, which are tabled in the Victorian Parliament.

2025 Case Studies

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In 2025, RMIT Activator secured a $400,000 grant from LaunchVic to deliver the [Re]Launch Circular Tech program, supporting entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions for the circular economy. 

Delivered in partnership with industry organisations including Anvarta, Lifecycles and Boomerang Labs, the initiative helps startups transform ideas into scalable businesses that reduce waste and improve resource efficiency. The program attracted 129 applications, with 50 participants selected for the first incubator cohort. 

By bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs, industry leaders and investors, RMIT is helping accelerate innovation and support the development of more sustainable industries and technologies.

RMIT is helping drive breakthroughs in advanced manufacturing, communications and healthcare through its leadership in the ARC Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science (COMBS). 

In 2025, the University completed a purpose-built Microcombs Research Facility at its City campus, providing specialised laboratories that support research into telecommunications, precision measurement, biomedical imaging and photonic technologies. 

Led by Distinguished Professor Arnan Mitchell, the Centre works with research and industry partners to develop compact optical technologies that have the potential to transform multiple industries and create new opportunities for innovation and commercialisation.

In 2025, RMIT launched the world's first ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Whole-Life Design of Carbon Neutral Infrastructure (DfCO2). 

Supported by more than $10 million from the Australian Research Council and 21 industry partners, the Centre is developing new approaches to designing infrastructure with carbon neutrality embedded from the outset. Bringing together researchers, industry and government, the Centre is helping build workforce capability and accelerate innovation across the infrastructure sector. 

Through this work, RMIT is supporting the development of more sustainable infrastructure systems while helping industry respond to emerging environmental and economic challenges.

2024 Case Studies

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An RMIT-led report reveals that remote First Nations communities are adversely affected by bank closures due to unreliable and expensive internet. Conducted by RMIT and Swinburne University at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S), the report was submitted to a Senate inquiry. 

These communities depend on in-person banking to manage complex tasks and prevent elder abuse, scams, and fraud. Project lead and Distinguished Professor Julian Thomas highlights the critical need for branches given poor internet quality.

 “By removing banks in regional areas, it potentially disadvantages an already vulnerable community from accessing basic necessities such as financial services, impacting their independence,” Thomas warns. He highlights the need for reliable internet infrastructure before online safety education, citing RMIT research that identifies these communities as among Australia’s most digitally excluded.

MIT University has been actively participating in the Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) scheme, which fosters collaboration between industry and academia to drive innovation and solve complex challenges. Over the past year, RMIT has secured multiple CRC-P grants, highlighting its strong industry partnerships and research capabilities.

The CRC-P projects focus on developing practical solutions in various sectors, including advanced manufacturing, health, and renewable energy. By working closely with industry partners, RMIT researchers have been able to translate academic insights into impactful real-world applications, enhancing technological advancements and contributing to economic growth.

This scheme not only supports RMIT's strategic objectives in research and innovation but also strengthens its reputation as a leader in industry collaboration. Through CRC-P projects, RMIT continues to play a vital role in addressing national and global challenges, while providing its students and staff with opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research and development.

RMIT successfully enhanced its capability to identify mega trends and future scenarios influenced by emerging technologies. 

This project involved experts across colleges to co-create roadmaps in thematic areas, fostering collaboration and engaging external stakeholders in the development of future initiatives. The main goal was to build internal strategic and technology roadmapping skills through workshops and advanced modules offered by experts from the University of Cambridge's Institute for Manufacturing. 

One significant outcome was a virtual workshop led by Professor Arnan Mitchell on the Integrated Photonics and Applications Centre (InPAC) and Lithium Niobate on Insulator (LNOI), aimed at developing a shared vision with external partners. 

Additionally, a technological roadmapping webinar by Dr. Clemens Chaskel and a two-day train-the-trainer workshop on bioprinting further developed roadmaps for biosolids and technology adoption, attracting diverse industry participation. These efforts strengthened RMIT's strategic capabilities and collaborative opportunities.

SDG Alignment Mapping Overview

As reported in the 2025 Sustainability Annual Report, there were 171 course units and 264 research projects aligned with SDG 9 in 2025, representing a wide range of industry, innovation and infrastructure related topics. 

Other SDG alignment insights are captured in the data below.

171 Course Units

264 Research Projects

32 International Research Partnerships

515 Publications

  RMIT Global Average
Publications in Top 25% Journal Percentiles by SIR (%) 83.0 58.8
Citations per Publication 5.8 3.1
Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) 2.2 59%
National Contribution (%) 9.0% N/A
International Collaboration  69.5 25.0
Developing Country Collaboration (%) 59% N/A
Low to Lower-Middle Income Country Collaboration (%) 25% N/A

Research Projects and Initiatives Over the Years

The following research projects have been specifically aligned to Sustainable Development Goal 9 and the aim to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. These projects and initiatives are examples of the University’s contribution to the SDGs over the years.

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Self-training program for nascent entrepreneurs

In recent years, Vietnam’s economy experienced rapid growth and integration into the global economy.

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Improved Urban Systems for Liveability

This project investigates how major cities function and the effects of their land-use, housing and infrastructure systems on the humans that live in them.

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Aquatic Pollution Prevention Partnership

The aims of this research partnership between Melbourne Water and RMIT University is to help prevent aquatic pollution.

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Centre of Excellence in future Low Energy Electronics Technologies (FLEET)

Decreasing energy use is a grand challenge facing society. The ARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies (FLEET) is a partnership with Monash University that addresses this challenge by realizing fundamentally new types of electronic conduction without resistance in solid-state systems at room temperature.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

Learn more about our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples