UQ tops nation in research scheme with industry

UQ tops nation in research scheme with industry

The University of Queensland is the top university in the nation when it comes to getting funds to collaborate on research projects with industry and governments.

The University of Queensland is the highest revenue earner nationally in the Federal Government's SPIRT (Strategic Partnerships with Industry - Research and Training) scheme

University of Queensland researchers attracted 35 new grants worth $5,055,681 over three years from 1999.

Last year, University of Queensland researchers attracted 22 grants worth $4,420,000 over three years from 1998.

University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Paul Greenfield said the outcomes represented an extremely good result for the University and reflected its number one status in terms of attracting outside commercial income for research.

"This result continues our tradition of being the top university for collaborating with government and industry on research projects," he said.

University of Queensland projects selected for funding include research into the development of an affordable weather radar system for airports, research into sex and aggregation pheromones in canegrub beetles and the development of markets in community services.

The top placings for the three-year period nationally were as follows:.
o University of Queensland (35 grants).
o University of Sydney (33 grants).
o University of Melbourne (32 grants).
o University of New South Wales (28 grants).
o.Monash University (22 grants).

The SPIRT scheme (Strategic Partnerships with Industry - Research and Training) gives institutions greater flexibility in negotiating with industry on collaborative research and training activities.

The scheme incorporates the Australian Research Council Collaborative Research Grants; the Australian Postgraduate Awards (Industry) and Australian Postdoctoral Fellowships (Industry) schemes.

Proposals under the new combined scheme can encompass collaborative research projects, collaborative research training or a combination of both projects and training.

For further information, contact the University Director of Research Services Jan Massey, telephone 07 3365 3640.