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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-05-12 Daily Xml
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International Research Grant Program

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:46): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Science and Information Economy a question about South Australians' collaborations with international researchers.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: International research is a growing component of core research activity for all countries. Can the minister update the chamber on the International Research Grant Program?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:46): I thank the honourable member for his important question. This government knows that it is important for South Australia to maintain productive research partnerships with the world's leading and emerging research and industry centres as it will help ensure that our researchers have access to the most relevant and up-to-date information from all around the world.

The Investing in Science Action Plan recognises that strengthening existing relationships and building new relationships, particularly with global leaders in science, research and industry, will obviously be important to encourage increased trade and investment. It is particularly important for South Australia to maintain productive research partnerships with the world's leading and emerging research and industry centres, as it will help ensure that our researchers remain contemporary and productive.

The Premier's Research and Industry Fund's international research grants support and facilitate South Australia's scientific and technological research being conducted with an international partner and target research activities with outputs that are of strategic benefit to South Australia. The projects that have been successfully awarded funding are aligned with the state's key strategic economic priorities, including growing advanced manufacturing, producing premium food and wine, creating a vibrant city and unlocking the full potential of this state's resources.

The latest round of eight recipients are working on projects that have links with international collaborations from Spain, New Zealand, France, Israel, Cyprus, England, South Africa and the United States. I will not mention all eight projects but I will give you enough so that honourable members have a sense of the calibre of research being undertaken and the cross-section of research. It is really incredibly exciting stuff.

One of the examples is Dr Erica Donner, from the University of South Australia, who was awarded $400,000. Dr Donner will be working with the Volcani Center in Israel and the University of Cyprus on a project that focuses on understanding and addressing the challenges posed by the emergence and transfer of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in non-clinical environments. Antimicrobial resistance is designated by the World Health Organisation as a global health security emergency.

Associate Professor David Allan Beattie, from the University of South Australia, was awarded $300,000. Dr Beattie will be working in collaboration with Ingredion Incorporated in the US to identify natural materials that can make food products last longer and taste better and provide new, unique eating experiences.

The third example, just very quickly, is Dr Craig Priest from the University of South Australia, who was awarded $298,000. This project aims to deliver new fundamental and applied knowledge and a working micro-extraction prototype to fast track the UniSA-developed advanced manufacturing technology. The proposed technology targets faster, safer and cheaper refining of platinum group metals.

As I am sure you will agree, Mr President, these are just three examples of amazing collaborations that are made possible by the Premier's Research and Industry Fund International Research Grant funding, and I congratulate all those who have been successfully awarded funding. I look forward to updating the chamber about the progress of this wonderful research.

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