About Us

The Institute for Steel Processing and Products, University of Wollongong (ISPP) was established in 1995 consolidating a long history of collaboration between the University and BHP Steel. Wollongong is situated 75 km south of Sydney (via the F6 Freeway) on the picturesque New South Wales coast with the University located at the base of scenic Mt. Keira. BHP Steel's Port Kembla Works and research laboratories are located in close proximity to the University, providing an excellent opportunity for interaction. The name of the Institute has been change to:
The Steel Institute, University of Wollongong.

A Board, comprising University and BlueScope Steel executives governs the Institute and the activities are managed through four programs and coordinated by a Technical Advisory Committee who links Institute activities to the business. Institute activities concentrate on:

• focussed academic research in support of BlueScope Steel's strategic goals

• advanced education of graduate engineers

• professional development.
  

The shared vision is that the multi-disciplinary Institute will provide opportunities for academic staff to play a greater role in assisting industry in enhancing its business. It will also enhance the opportunities for industry staff to make a contribution to fundamental research and education. Hence, the Institute was founded on the premise that there is a strong nexus between research, education and business development.

The Institute not only provides fundamental research support to BlueScope Steel, but it also provides formal postgraduate education and transfers new knowledge to the workplace by regularly offering short courses to industry.

Since its inception, strong and focussed research groups founded in the Institute attracted talented staff and the associated teaching disciplines. These dedicated teams built a specialised equipment infrastructure that is shared by University and BlueScope Steel researchers, is unique in Australia and is specifically tailored to the needs of BlueScope Steel. The Institute now collaborates with BlueScope Steel on projects that cover a wide spectrum of activities and involves members of academic staff, postdoctoral research fellows and graduate students. BlueScope Steel staff participates actively in these research endeavours and the operating funds of the Institute are almost equally shared between the government in the form of competitive grants, BlueScope Steel as the industrial partner and the University.