Research centres & institutes

Solving global problems through research with a focus on the greater good.
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UNSW Energy Institute

Our research centres and institutes contribute in significant and enduring ways to the advancement of knowledge across diverse fields of study.  

Explore our research. 
Research centres & institutes

UNSW Innovation Hub

The UNSW Innovation Hub tackles a broad variety of problems that differ in size, complexity and subject matter. It exists to design and establish new ways of working for universities that foreground collective creativity and productivity, seeking challenges that need a collaborative approach and can't be solved by a single discipline.
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Some of our world-leading initiatives
The Michael Birt lawn in front of the Wallace Wurth and Biological Sciences buildings
UNSW Lowy Cancer Research Centre
UNSW Lowy Cancer Research Centre is a cross-disciplinary team including laboratory sciences, clinical practice and health policy. It is one of the largest dedicated cancer research centres in the Southern Hemisphere and the first in Australia to bring adult and childhood cancer research under one roof.
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Magan Davis stands in front of The Statement from the heart document
Indigenous Law Centre (ILC)
The ILC is an integral part of the life of the Faculty of Law & Justice. Established in 1981, the ILC is the only Indigenous law research centre in Australia. It has also been integral to the development of constitutional reform over the past decade under the stewardship of Professor Davis.
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Veena Sahajwalla in a micro factory
Sustainable Materials Research & Technology ( SMaRT) Centre
Technologies developed by the SMaRT Centre can recycle and reform many of the materials from electronic waste. This means waste itself can and should be seen as a resource if we want to electrify the world and be more sustainable. Find out how.
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Tents of a IDP camp after the earthquake in Haiti.
The Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law
More than 68 million people worldwide are displaced from their homes – the highest number since the Second World War. The Kaldor Centre’s non-partisan, evidence-based research, analysis and engagement bring a crucial, independent dimension to the debate, and its expertise is regularly sought out by the United Nations.
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A jet of water shooting up from a fountain
The Global Water Institute
The UNSW Global Water Institute is a world leader in water research and innovation. The Institute is a truly multi-disciplinary venture; by drawing on water expertise from seven faculties and 13 specialist centres across the University we have created the Nation’s most advanced water knowledge hub.
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Kirby Institute logo
The Kirby Institute
The Kirby Institute is a world-leading health research institute working to eliminate infectious diseases, globally. Its specialisation is in developing health solutions for the most at-risk communities, building a safer, healthier world for everyone. 
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Solar panels
The Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics
Scientia Professor, Martin Green leads ACAP as they develop clean energy solutions using photovoltaics. Global manufacturing has universally adopted UNSW’s PERC Cell technology to ensure a sustainable future. Follow ACAP’s discoveries.
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Three schoolboys
The Gonski Institute of Education
The Gonski Institute is working to address growing inequality in Australian education as well as improving access for students to high-quality education no matter their background or wherever they may go to school.
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Military helicopter
The UNSW Defence Research Institute
The Defence Research Institute, headquartered in Canberra, unifies UNSW’s defence-related research capabilities with global academic and industry partnerships to develop and deliver ground-breaking defence and security capabilities and share knowledge with global thought leaders, industry partners and policymakers.
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Search by faculty to learn more about UNSW’s network of institutes and centres behind some of our most innovative discoveries and collaborations.

Arts, Design & Architecture

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Business

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Canberra / ADFA

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Engineering

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Law & Justice

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Medicine & Health

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Science

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