Fast-tracking research with real-world potential

The Palaszczuk Government is fast-tracking more good, secure jobs and business opportunities in the innovation economy with the opening of the 2022 Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships.

Innovation Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the fellowships were open to Queensland-based PhD qualified researchers.

“The Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships are aimed at research projects with real-world application potential,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“Fellowships backed by industry are a proven way of fast-tracking research from the lab to commercialisation.

“Researchers need to secure an industry partner to qualify for an Advance Queensland fellowship.

“That way we can ensure research translates to practical uses for industry, creates good, secure jobs and attracts investment to Queensland.

“We’re keen to see fellowships focused on new technology and innovation to drive solutions from climate change, food and water security to environmental sustainability and industry resilience.”

Since 2016, the Palaszczuk Government has invested $45 million in six rounds of Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships with funding for 197 fellowships.

Research projects have included strategies for reducing plastic in landfill, accurate diagnostic tests for prostate cancer and streamlining cobalt and copper recovery from tailing dams.  

Science Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the Budget had allocated $12 million over three years for the fellowship program as part of the Advance Queensland – Innovation for a Future Economy 2022-2032 Roadmap.

“The fellowships have a track record of job creation – with each fellowship on average creating about three jobs per research project and with 12 additional jobs forecast post-completion,” Ms Scanlon said.

“The research projects are closely aligned to building technology that will support the Queensland Government’s economic vision around strengthening the state’s growing industrial sectors in medtech and life sciences, mining technologies, advanced manufacturing, agtech, biofutures, aerospace, digital economy, and circular economy.”

Fellowships are available for early-career and mid-career researchers.

More information is at Industry Research Fellowships (advance.qld.gov.au) 

Applications close on Monday 17 October.

Media: 0427 475 089.