Research Fellowships

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:46): My question is to the Minister for Science and Information Economy. Can the minister update the chamber on how the state government is supporting the attraction of world-class researchers to South Australia?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:46): I thank the honourable member for his question and his interest in economic matters in South Australia, particularly in terms of our education and research sectors.

We know that attracting world-leading researchers not only builds the state's research capabilities and knowledge base but also leads to the growth of new research centres and has the potential to provide significant economic benefits to the state. That is why we established, through the Premier's Research and Industry Fund (PRIF), the Research Fellowship Program.

The program was designed to expand the state's research capability and target research activities that provided direct economic benefit to industry by attracting world-leading researchers to South Australia. The program provides $1 million over four years to a research institution to assist in recruiting a world-class researcher to South Australia, with the research institution also being expected to provide $750,000 per annum over four years, comprising $250,000 cash per annum and in-kind support for the establishment of the fellow and the associated research program.

I am pleased to be able to inform the chamber that recently two leading Australian experts have arrived in South Australia to assist with projects aimed at putting the state at the forefront of healthcare innovation as a direct result of this program. Professor Anthony Maeder will work with Flinders University and Professor Robert McLaughlin with the University of Adelaide to develop innovative solutions to challenges aligned to the state's economic priorities in digital health and advanced manufacturing. The state government will provide $1 million to each university over the next five years through the Research Fellowship Program to support the appointments.

Professor Maeder, from the University of Western Sydney, is an internationally-recognised researcher and leader in the field of digital health. His extensive academic experience spans 30 years. He will bring to South Australia extensive research experience, including being appointed former research director at the CSIRO's Australian eHealth Research Centre. He also brings extensive international connections through his leadership of major international activities in standards development, education and research.

Using concepts developed at the University of Western Sydney's TeleHealth Research and Innovation Laboratory, the professor's work will complement other research being carried out at Flinders University in healthcare innovation. Professor McLaughlin comes from the University of Western Australia and has industry expertise in medical device development. He successfully pioneered the translational research program of taking the microscope in the needle technology to clinical trials, product development and commercialisation. The professor will be the Chair of BioPhotonics at the University of Adelaide and will develop the next generation of medical devices used to examine the response of human cells to environmental conditions and treatments.

The new science he will develop in association with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics will use his health research and it should have a positive impact on South Australia's medical device manufacturing sector. The state government is committed to delivering policy and program settings required to attract world-class researchers to South Australia to grow research centres, particularly new research centres, and provide significant economic benefits to the South Australian economy.

As a result of looking at some of these programs, we are also announcing larger scale challenge-based research consortium-style projects. In late March this year the first round of the research consortium program was announced. The program provides funding for significant research collaborations between universities, other research organisations, the government and industry, to tackle major challenges in areas of critical need and strategic importance to South Australia, aligned with the state's economic priorities.

Expressions of interest are currently being sought for this program and will close in June this year. Applications will be invited from a shortlist of expressions of interest with full submissions closing late 2016, and, Mr President, I look forward to days like these when I will be able to announce such significant research consortia, hopefully later this year.

I also look forward to informing the chamber on the successful outcomes of the work undertaken by the two world-class professors, that will inspire South Australia's medical and health systems, and look forward to what comes from those, as well as those future research consortia programs.