Research partnership boost

The Minister of Education, Science and Training, Dr Brendan Nelson has announced that the Australian Government would provide more than A$60.4 million for research in the latest round of the Australian Research Council's (ARC) Linkage Projects Scheme.

The Linkage Projects Scheme supports and encourages the formation of long-term strategic research alliances between higher education institutions and industry in order to apply advanced knowledge to problems and meet the needs of Australian industry.

There were a total of 251 successful applications this round, involving university researchers to collaborate with 479 Australian and overseas-based industry partners and other organisations.

The outcomes of these collaborations will have lasting economic and social benefits in areas such as robotic baggage inspection systems, bioactive polymers for wound healing applications and solar wastewater treatment systems.

The average total grant size in this round has increased to A$240,665, compared to A$230,225 in the previous round. Industry and other partner organisations have also pledged up to A$92.6 million over the life of the projects.

The Scheme is a part of the Australian Government's 2001 innovation action plan, Backing Australia's Ability, which supports innovative research through ARC.