- Nineteen researchers will share in more than $5 million in funding in the latest round of Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships.
- The fellowships support Queensland-based researchers to partner with industry to conduct research that improves the agricultural industry, health outcomes, the environment and renewable energy.
- More than $53 million has been invested in the fellowships program since 2016.
Nineteen Queensland-based PhD qualified researchers will share in more than $5 million in funding in the latest round of Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships.
The fellowships are designed to foster innovation and future proof industry, with researchers partnering with industry to address barriers to growth, identify more effective and efficient ways of servicing customers, and developing new products.
The fellowships also have a track record of job creation – with each fellowship, on average, creating around three jobs per research project and more post-completion.
Fellowships backed by industry are a proven way of fast-tracking research from the lab to commercialisation.
Researchers must secure an industry partner to qualify for an Advance Queensland fellowship, that way the research translates to practical uses for industry, creates good, secure jobs and attracts investment to Queensland.
Fellowships are available for early-career and mid-career researchers.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Science and Innovation, Leanne Linard:
"The fellowships demonstrate the Miles Government's commitment to building a resilient economy and creating jobs, as well as reinforce Queensland's reputation as a world leader in innovation and research.
"The 19 fellowships offered in this round cover a diverse range of topics involving unique research to help develop innovative solutions for industry.
"This includes the use of spider venom to control plagues of locusts, more effective disease control in our livestock industries, the use of artificial intelligence to produce climate-resilient and profitable crops and the restoration of seaweed forests.
"I congratulate our new fellows and I look forward to the difference their research will make to Queenslanders, to our economy and our industries."
Quotes attributable to Queensland Chief Scientist, Professor Kerrie Wilson:
"The talented Queensland scientists embarking on these fellowships are paving the way for innovative solutions to benefit our economy, natural environment and society.
"Investments in our talented researchers allows new knowledge to be generated to address industry priorities and develop critical technologies.
"The Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship program supports Queensland-based researchers to collaborate with industry and ensure the findings are translated into practical application for the industry partner. Ultimately, this benefits Queensland's economy and builds new jobs for the future."
Quotes attributable to University of Southern Queensland academic and 2019 fellow, Professor Allan Manalo:
"The fellowship was one of the highlights of my research career.
"In partnership with the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), we were able to demonstrate the climate resilient benefits of concrete structures reinforced with glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars in boating and maritime infrastructure.
"The collaborative research showed the GFRP reinforced concrete structures have better structural performance than steel reinforced concrete, and we were able to eliminate corrosion in the marine environment.
"The fellowship created a lot of opportunities to work with TMR and a number of Queensland-based industries.
"The partnerships I made during the fellowship are ongoing, and the fellowship supported twelve existing Queensland jobs and it supported 23 new jobs.
"The projects the research team has implemented through the fellowship project have created 49 new jobs, and it has the potential to create 160 new future jobs in regional Queensland with TMR now specifying the GFRP bars in their boating and maritime infrastructure."
"We can also create climate-resilient, adaptive technological solutions that will enhance capabilities of TMR and other government agencies to design, build and deliver infrastructure and transport systems better able to withstand adverse impacts of increasing natural disasters like flooding and storm surges."
