Agilent Technologies Inc. has officially launched its new Agilent Innovation Hub in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, enhancing research in environmental health and safety. This initiative, announced on November 12, 2025, integrates Agilent’s advanced technologies with the expertise of the Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants (ALEC). The hub aims to address critical challenges surrounding unregulated chemicals that may impact public health.
This partnership is a continuation of Agilent’s commitment to advancing environmental research in Australia. Under the direction of Assoc. Prof. Brad Clarke, the collaboration seeks to tackle an array of pollutants, including synthetic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), microplastics, and flame retardants. Assoc. Prof. Clarke emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating, “This collaboration with Agilent shows what’s possible when academia and industry work hand in hand. It allows us to move beyond measuring known contaminants toward discovering the thousands of unregulated chemicals that may be circulating in our environment and bodies.”
The Agilent Innovation Hub leverages cutting-edge technology, including the Infinity III Liquid Chromatography (LC) systems, to foster innovative solutions for environmental health. Bharat Bhardwaj, vice president of APAC sales at Agilent, highlighted the importance of this venture, noting, “We are proud to launch the Agilent Innovation Hub with ALEC, advancing biomonitoring insights while driving environmental research to improve population health in Australia.” The partnership emphasizes Agilent’s role in pioneering ultra-trace detection technologies capable of quantifying PFAS and microplastics in drinking water at an unprecedented level of parts per quadrillion (PPQ).
Strengthening Research Capabilities
At the core of the Agilent Innovation Hub is a focus on enhancing the discovery pipeline by combining various capabilities, such as InfinityLab Assist Technology, InfinityLab Level Sensing, InfinityLab Sample ID Reader, and high-resolution Revident Quadruple Time of Flight LC/MS. These advancements facilitate automation and precision, enabling researchers to identify previously undetected compounds with exceptional accuracy.
Since its inception in 2017, the collaboration between Agilent and Assoc. Prof. Clarke has yielded significant innovations in environmental analysis. The establishment of the ALEC research facility in 2020, with Agilent as a founding industry partner, has further solidified Australia’s position as a leader in sustainable scientific innovation.
Agilent’s expansion across Asia is marked by the recent establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) at prestigious universities in South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia. This strategic growth underscores Agilent’s commitment to fostering partnerships that advance science and technology in the region.
As Agilent continues to innovate, its collaboration with the University of Melbourne represents a significant step toward improving population health through rigorous environmental research. By combining industry expertise with academic research, this partnership aims to uncover critical insights that will ultimately benefit communities across Australia and beyond.
About Agilent Technologies: Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global leader in analytical and clinical laboratory technologies, generating revenue of $6.51 billion in the fiscal year 2024 and employing approximately 18,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.agilent.com.
