Nearly 50 industry-led research projects have won backing from the federal government in the latest round of its $296 million Industry PhD program, with researchers to explore areas like AI, fertility and conservation of a newly discovered Australian mammal.
$7 million in grants for the third round of the program were announced on Friday by Assistant Minister for Education Anthony Chisholm ahead of the round four cut off next month.
The 48 grants are across both streams of the program, which is a key part of the Morrison government’s $2 billion research commercialisation push.
The program was continued by the current government and aims to add 1,800 Industry PhDs over 10 years.
Grants from its Industry Linked stream add PhD candidates to industry designed projects, with the candidates spending up to half their time embedded with the industry partner.
Industry Researcher PhD stream grants fund industry researchers to complete a PhD with a host university.
Both streams were covered in the third round of the program which awarded grants to 48 projects.
One project will see the University of Adelaide and IVF clinic Repromed partner to explore screening techniques to improve egg selection.
Another between Charles Darwin University and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy will develop conservation plans for a new mammal species recently discovered by Traditional owners.
Mr Chisolm said it is encouraging that the latest round includes researchers from every state and territory.
“This includes Central Queensland University (CQUniversity), which is supporting the PhD candidate to investigate the potential to use unmanned ground vehicles, AI-driven computing and cloud-based web apps to improve the efficiency of orchard imaging and harvesting technologies,” he said.
The first two rounds of the Industry PhD program awarded $13 million to 72 other projects.
Applications for round four of the National Industry PhD Program are now open and will close on Friday, August 9.
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