Published Wednesday, 31 January, 2007 at 12:25 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
INNOVATORS TO SHARE UP TO $18 MILLION: PREMIER
Premier Peter Beattie is urging scientists and research organisations to apply for grants in the latest round of up to $18 million in Queensland Government Smart State Innovation Funds.
Inspecting the Australian Sun and Health Research Laboratory at QUT’s Kelvin Grove campus today – another example of the Smart State in action – Mr Beattie said the grants were helping push the boundaries of discovery.
“Totalling $200 million over four years, this program is building the very best in facilities and attracting and developing our top minds which means our kids get to pursue their research dreams here, while we diversify our economic base in smart ways,” Mr Beattie said.
“Queenslanders benefit from the brain gain and the solutions that unfold, and our research powerhouse attracts global investment and international partnerships which are so vital to trade and economic sustainability.”
There are a range of grants available under the Smart State Innovation Funds program.
Mr Beattie said among recipients to shine internationally is Professor Ian Frazer who was awarded $250,000 a year for five years last year to translate the immunotherapy success of his cervical cancer vaccine to other diseases.
“Economic growth and innovation go hand-in-hand and that’s why my Government is investing heavily in the Smart State’s foundations and our world-leading researchers just like Professor Frazer,” he said.
State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said QUT’s sun lab was a Smart State success story headed by physicist and medical researcher Dr Michael Kimlin.
“This facility is the only one of its kind in Australia and it’s improving our understanding of the fine balance between UV exposure, well being and cancer and has already attracted support from the US Government,” Mr Mickel said.
“If it wasn’t for his Smart State Fellowship, Dr Kimlin would have been forced to carry out the research in the US which means Queensland would have missed out on his extremely valuable expertise in an area so familiar to many Queenslanders – the risks and benefits of sun exposure.”
Dr Kimlin and his team are investigating a number of projects, including the relationship between ozone depletion and UV radiation in Queensland, the impact of indoor UV exposure, and the relationship between sun protection and increasing prevalence of vitamin D deficiency.
Dr Kimlin said it was thanks in large part to winning the Smart State Fellowship that he has been able to establish the Australian Sun and Research Laboratory in Brisbane.
“It started off with just me, but now we have about 14 people in our multi-disciplinary research team,” Dr Kimlin said.
“I think the Smart State Innovation grants are a great example of what’s happening in Queensland these days where we’re witnessing remarkable breakthroughs in scientific research and development,” he said.
“We’re also noticing a lot of national and overseas interest in the work being done in the Smart State. For example, we have a project looking at measuring indoor UV exposure which is funded by the US Government.”
Applications for this next round of Smart State Innovation Funds close on Wednesday, March 7, 2007.
For information on how to apply, please visit: www.sdi.qld.gov.au/innovationfunds
For further information, please contact R&D Advisory Services, Innovation and Emerging Industries, Department of State Development, tel (07) 3227 7211. Email: r&dadvisory@sd.qld.gov.au
Media Contacts: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Minister Mickel’s Office Chris Brown 3224 7349/Elouise Campion 3224 6784
For Dr Kimlin 3138 5802, email: m.kimlin@qut.edu.au.
Inspecting the Australian Sun and Health Research Laboratory at QUT’s Kelvin Grove campus today – another example of the Smart State in action – Mr Beattie said the grants were helping push the boundaries of discovery.
“Totalling $200 million over four years, this program is building the very best in facilities and attracting and developing our top minds which means our kids get to pursue their research dreams here, while we diversify our economic base in smart ways,” Mr Beattie said.
“Queenslanders benefit from the brain gain and the solutions that unfold, and our research powerhouse attracts global investment and international partnerships which are so vital to trade and economic sustainability.”
There are a range of grants available under the Smart State Innovation Funds program.
Mr Beattie said among recipients to shine internationally is Professor Ian Frazer who was awarded $250,000 a year for five years last year to translate the immunotherapy success of his cervical cancer vaccine to other diseases.
“Economic growth and innovation go hand-in-hand and that’s why my Government is investing heavily in the Smart State’s foundations and our world-leading researchers just like Professor Frazer,” he said.
State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said QUT’s sun lab was a Smart State success story headed by physicist and medical researcher Dr Michael Kimlin.
“This facility is the only one of its kind in Australia and it’s improving our understanding of the fine balance between UV exposure, well being and cancer and has already attracted support from the US Government,” Mr Mickel said.
“If it wasn’t for his Smart State Fellowship, Dr Kimlin would have been forced to carry out the research in the US which means Queensland would have missed out on his extremely valuable expertise in an area so familiar to many Queenslanders – the risks and benefits of sun exposure.”
Dr Kimlin and his team are investigating a number of projects, including the relationship between ozone depletion and UV radiation in Queensland, the impact of indoor UV exposure, and the relationship between sun protection and increasing prevalence of vitamin D deficiency.
Dr Kimlin said it was thanks in large part to winning the Smart State Fellowship that he has been able to establish the Australian Sun and Research Laboratory in Brisbane.
“It started off with just me, but now we have about 14 people in our multi-disciplinary research team,” Dr Kimlin said.
“I think the Smart State Innovation grants are a great example of what’s happening in Queensland these days where we’re witnessing remarkable breakthroughs in scientific research and development,” he said.
“We’re also noticing a lot of national and overseas interest in the work being done in the Smart State. For example, we have a project looking at measuring indoor UV exposure which is funded by the US Government.”
Applications for this next round of Smart State Innovation Funds close on Wednesday, March 7, 2007.
For information on how to apply, please visit: www.sdi.qld.gov.au/innovationfunds
For further information, please contact R&D Advisory Services, Innovation and Emerging Industries, Department of State Development, tel (07) 3227 7211. Email: r&dadvisory@sd.qld.gov.au
Media Contacts: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Minister Mickel’s Office Chris Brown 3224 7349/Elouise Campion 3224 6784
For Dr Kimlin 3138 5802, email: m.kimlin@qut.edu.au.