Research into nuclear medicine, hypersonic vehicles and sustainable agriculture production has seen UQ collaborations with leading Australian industry partners attract almost $6 million in funding from the Federal Government’s Cooperative Research Centre Projects (CRC-P).
UQ was the top-performing institution in Australia, with three projects featuring in the inaugural round of the industry-led scheme – more than any other university.
The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science scheme involves industry, universities and other partners.
UQ School of Agricultural and Food Sciences Professor Peer Schenk is a key participant in a project led by Qponics Limited, which has received $1 million to help translate research findings into practical methods to accelerate sustainable omega-3 production from microalgae.
Professor Ian Brereton from UQ’s Centre for Advance Imaging (CAI) is involved in a successful CRC-P led by Clarity Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, awarded $2.5 million to strengthen Australia’s nuclear medicine capabilities.
“The grant awarded to Clarity Pharmaceuticals, in partnership with the CAI at UQ and Phebra Pty Ltd will be used to strengthen Australia’s radiopharmaceutical development capabilities, leveraging the nation’s good foundation in radiopharmaceutical clinical development,” he said.
“The funding will be used to build globally competitive sites for clinical trials in nuclear medicine, and the development of new capabilities and processes to deal specifically with innovative technologies, methodologies and products.”
“These processes will be available for products being developed by innovative Australian companies and companies globally.”
The School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering’s Dr Vincent Wheatley is collaborating on a project led by Defendtex Pty Ltd, which secured almost $2.5 million in CRC-P funding for its program on liquid hydrocarbon fuel technology for scramjets.
“A major barrier to commercialising scramjets in Australia is that locally-designed scramjet engines are exclusively hydrogen fuelled, and the liquid hydrogen required for commercial applications is challenging and expensive to store,” he said.
“The project aims to develop new technology to fuel scramjets with readily available liquid hydrocarbons instead.”
Media: UQ Communications, communications@uq.ed.au, 3365 3439
