The University of Queensland has been named as a partner in a bold collaborative plan for Queensland to develop a world-class centre for animal health research.
The Queensland Government announcement on February 11 said the plan would combine animal health research, teaching and industry services currently undertaken by the University of Queensland, CSIRO and the Department of Primary Industries under the one roof - in a new, state-of-the-art institute costing up to $75 million and possibly located at Gatton.
The institute would draw on expertise throughout the State and provide huge benefits to the animal industries, students and the community.
The three agencies acknowledged the benefits of co-location, which includes boosting the technical resources available to protect the health of urban and rural animal populations, providing more efficient services to clients, providing staff and students with more opportunities, and reducing current infrastructure costs.
This partnership would also strengthen linkages with regional tertiary education centres, other related organisations such as Queensland Health, and the private sector.
A feasibility study for the plan would commence in early March and was expected to be completed within six months.
Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay said the University welcomed the government announcement of support for the concept for a collaborative institute.
Professor Hay, a member of the Premier's Science and Technology Advisory Council, said: "The way of the future is to build strength through collaboration, and the University views the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and CSIRO as ideal partners in animal sciences.'
While the merits of different locations would require investigation, the institute would be highly compatible with the University's strategies for the development of Gatton College as a world-class centre of agricultural and animal sciences,' Professor Hay said.
World-class science required major infrastructure investment. This new institute could provide a model for the major engines of research to come together with much more productive outcomes than three organisations acting alone, he said.
Both students and researchers would gain access to superior facilities and infrastructure which would be beyond the reach of single partners.
Other possible areas in which collaborative ventures could bring great benefit would be information technology, where the University already was a national leader and was looking to build on its strengths.
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