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How GMA's Global Research Network is Exploring New Opportunities for Garnet
Innovation has long been part of GMA's approach to creating value for customers and identifying new opportunities for garnet. Today, that commitment is being strengthened through a growing network of research partnerships with leading universities and institutes across Australia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Working alongside academic researchers, industry specialists and targeted industry partners, GMA is exploring new applications for garnet, advancing technical knowledge, and investigating opportunities that have the potential to challenge conventional thinking across a range of industries. The collaborations support three strategic focus areas for the business: new applications, innovation, and disruption.
Across these focus areas, GMA is engaging with specific industry partners globally to identify where garnet can substitute existing materials, be added as a performance-enhancing additive, or help improve the durability and service life of partner products.
This work includes exploring how garnet's unique properties can contribute to emerging industrial applications, while also identifying opportunities to enhance performance, efficiency, and value across existing markets.
According to GMA New Market and Innovation Manager Alex Bozward, partnerships between industry and academia create opportunities to combine practical experience with leading-edge research.
"Innovation often happens at the intersection of industry experience and academic research. By collaborating with leading institutions across multiple regions, we're able to explore emerging ideas, test new concepts, and better understand how garnet can create value in applications beyond those traditionally associated with our industry."
Alex Bozward
New Market & Innovation Manager
GMA's global research network now includes collaborations with five institutions across Australia, Europe and the Middle East:
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Edith Cowan University (Western Australia)
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Curtin University (Western Australia)
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Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (Victoria)
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Institut für Korrosionsschutz Dresden GmbH (Germany)
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A leading university in Saudi Arabia
The research partnerships span a diverse range of disciplines, including materials science, corrosion protection, mineral processing, and emerging industrial technologies. Through these collaborations, GMA is supporting research that not only deepens technical understanding but also helps identify future opportunities for growth and innovation.
"Some projects are focused on optimizing existing applications and processes, while others are exploring where garnet may have a role in industries or technologies that are still emerging," Alex continued.
"The value of these partnerships is that they allow us to investigate ideas at an early stage, build technical knowledge, and explore opportunities that may not yet be commercially established but have the potential to shape future product development, market growth, and long-term value for our business and customers."
Photo: RMIT’s Clare Russell – Director Research Partnerships and Initiatives and Senior Manager of IP and Commercialisation, Mohan Sridhar, with GMA’s General Manager of International Sales and Marketing, Flynn Cowan and New Markets & Innovation Manager, Alex Bozward – onsite at RMIT.
Several of the collaborations involve ongoing research programs that explore both established and emerging applications for garnet. Partnerships with institutions such as RMIT University and a leading university in Saudi Arabia are helping expand understanding of how garnet's unique properties can create value across a range of industries.
Current research includes investigating advanced industrial applications for garnet, as well as exploring its potential contribution to more durable and sustainable construction materials.
Together, these projects support GMA's broader ambition to unlock opportunities beyond traditional applications and strengthen its position in emerging sectors.
For GMA General Manager International Sales and Marketing Flynn Cowan, the company's investment in research partnerships reflects a broader commitment to innovation, growth, and customer-led value creation.
"The challenges facing industry continue to evolve, and innovation is essential to ensuring we remain relevant and competitive. Our collaboration with universities and research institutions strengthens our ability to develop new knowledge, explore emerging opportunities, and support sustainable growth."
Flynn Cowan
General Manager International Sales & Marketing
Flynn highlighted that the international nature of the research network provides valuable perspectives that help GMA look beyond traditional applications and consider how garnet can contribute to solving future industry challenges.
"Each institution brings unique capabilities and expertise," he said. "Together, these partnerships create an environment where ideas can be challenged, tested, and developed into practical solutions that benefit both GMA and our customers."
GMA CEO Stephan Kirsch reinforced that innovation remains central to how GMA creates long-term value, positioning itself for future growth.
"Research partnerships play an important role in helping us expand our understanding of garnet and explore opportunities that align with our long-term strategy. By combining our industry expertise with leading research capabilities around the world, we're building knowledge that the interaction with customers and feedback from our business partners can support future growth, strengthen our business, and help us continue delivering value."
Stephan Kirsch
Chief Executive Officer, GMA Garnet Group
Photo: Alex Bozward, New Markets & Innovation Manager, Dr. Silvia Salgar Chaparro, Research Fellow; Matthew Burkett, NACE Certified Coating Inspector Level 3; and Dan Phillips, QA/Supervisor and NACE Certified Coatings Inspector Level 2.
As GMA continues to explore new applications for garnet, its global research network will remain an important part of the company’s innovation strategy. By connecting industry expertise with specialist research capabilities, GMA is building the knowledge needed to support customer-led innovation, identify opportunities in emerging markets, and create long-term value beyond its traditional applications.