$7M initiative to enhance collaboration between regional Queensland universities

• The Miles Government will partner with CSIRO to deliver a new Regional University Industry Collaboration Program.
• The $7 million initiative is set to increase collaboration between universities and industry across regional Queensland.

A new $7 million program under the Miles Government’s Science into Industry Initiative is set to boost collaboration between regional Queensland universities and make the state’s science sector more competitive.

The Regional University Industry Collaboration Program will support regional Queensland universities and accelerate the commercialisation of the state’s research and development in the regions. 

Queensland’s regional universities are undertaking research in a wide range of fields, but less access to investors and networks, compared with universities based in major centres, has contributed to less industry engagement and lower rates of commercialisation. 

The industry collaboration program will help local small-medium sized enterprises and regional universities overcome barriers that have led to lower rates of commercialisation and engagement between industry and the research sector.

This program will be delivered by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency.

A team of regional research facilitators from CSIRO's specialist SME Connect team will deliver three complementary program components to aid identification, facilitation, negotiation and brokering services to both businesses and universities.

The facilitators will draw upon three key tools to set up and progress research collaborations within regions, leading to a sustainable pathway for future university-industry collaborations:

• masterclasses for both businesses and university stakeholders to improve knowledge and understanding of research commercialisation leading to more successful collaborations.
• regional research/industry Events to showcase and improve visibility of capabilities to potential collaborators across universities, industry and government and providing networking opportunities to discuss problems, capabilities, resources and co-design solutions that lead to research collaborations and strategies for translation.
• vouchers worth up to $50,000 each (matched funding required) to fund SME-university collaborative projects.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Science and Innovation, Leanne Linard:

“The Miles Government is doing what matters for Queenslanders, including the innovators working at our world-class regional universities.

“Our $7 million Regional University Industry Collaboration program will bring together Queensland’s regional universities and industry to deliver benefits for our regional communities.

“We have listened to the sector and recognised the importance of targeted support across regional Queensland to deliver better, stronger research outcomes for the state.

“This program is a perfect fit within our Science Into Industry Initiative and further bolsters university/industry research collaboration.

“This significant investment is appropriate to ensure the state’s vital science research work is supported in regional Queensland.”

Quotes attributable to Director of CSIRO’s SME Connect team, Simon Hanson:

“CSIRO is pleased to partner with the Queensland Government to deliver the Regional University Industry Collaboration Program.

“Our specialist SME Connect team has many years’ experience in facilitating university-research collaboration. This support is crucial for fostering innovation, driving economic growth, and ensuring that academic research translates into real-world applications.

“Working together, universities can tailor their research and development capabilities to meet Queensland’s evolving R&D needs.

“Partnerships that this program will support will also enable industry to leverage cutting-edge research and technological advancements, accelerate product development and improve competitive advantage, while strengthening Queensland’s regional economy.”

Further information:

Regional universities included in the program are James Cook University, Central Queensland University, University of the Sunshine Coast and the University of Southern Queensland.

Further information on the Regional University Industry Collaboration program and other funding programs is available at: www.science.desi.qld.gov.au/industry/funding.

Further information on the Science into Industry Initiative is available at https://science.desi.qld.gov.au/industry/funding/sii.

ENDS

Media contact: Scott Chandler – (07) 3719 7339