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. 

UNSW Innovation Hub

Our mission is to be a leading catalyst for socially responsible innovation within and beyond higher education. We do this by harnessing design-led methodologies to navigate complexity, connect and empower diverse communities, and partner to create a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future.

Some of our world-leading initiatives

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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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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