- Posted on 19 Feb 2025
About SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
The United Nations reports that almost 85 per cent of the global population was covered by a 4G mobile and internet network by the end of 2020, a twofold increase in just 5 years. Infrastructure spending in developing countries rose almost 40% between 2010 and 2019. These are encouraging indicators and universities have a vital role to play in fostering industry innovation and developing new sustainable infrastructure.
The UTS ProtoSpace is Australia's most advanced additive manufacturing and 3D printing facility and our Biologistics Innovation Facility is a state-of-the-art bioprocessing laboratory for upscaling and manufacturing biopharmaceuticals. These facilities, along with our Research Centres of Excellence play an important role in UTS’s contribution to industry innovation. Below are some examples of our contribution and impact.
Here are some examples of our work at UTS contributing towards SDG 9.
Decarbonising Built Environments with Hempcrete
Hempcrete provides a sustainable option for future construction with a lower carbon footprint and excellent environmental properties compared to traditional building materials
Wastewater treatment facilities a way to tackle food waste challenge
UTS researchers estimated just three wastewater facilities could fill 20% of the identified anaerobic digestion capacity gap required for Sydney by 2030.
Wallbot: A Robot for Maintaining Green Walls
Whilst the social and ecological benefits of green walls are well known, uptake has been slow partly due to perceptions of high ongoing maintenance costs. The development of a prototype wallbot to inspect and monitor high-rise green walls attempts to address this barrie
3D-printed air: a cool solution to tackle global warming
The world's first robotically 3D-printed air-diffusion system, offering potential to cut carbon emissions and resource use in the building industry.
Beer and algae: brewing a greener future
Tackling climate change, one brew at a time Sydney brewery Young Henrys has teamed up with UTS researchers using algae to remove CO2 from the manufacturing process.
From the ashes of fast fashion, arises the phoenix of the ‘Wellbeing Wardrobe’
Moving from a culture of fast fashion, latest looks and unsustainable consumption to a system where human and ecological health come first.
Our impact
Find out how UTS staff and students are contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Trailblazers for the Goals
UTS has experts working towards the SDGs all over campus. The Trailblazers for the Goals are a campus-wide network of researchers and experts advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
You can contact a trailblazer to discuss their work for the SDGs, or they can connect you with other experts in the space.
Dr. Melita Jazbec
Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF)
Melita is a circular economy and waste management expert at the ISF who specialises in resource, energy and water futures. She advances SDG 9 through her innovative and cross‑sectoral approaches to circular economy policy and her focus on organics, plastic waste, resource recovery, carbon footprint and place‑based circular solutions.
Learn more
We need more help to recycle and reuse mountains of waste
A new Productivity Commission report finds regulations and costs are slowing Australia’s progress in becoming a circular economy write Melita Jazbec, Monique...