Innovation linked to NRF receives federal funding

Pain-free diabetes testing, a new vessel to track climate-change data and sensors for driverless cars are some of the innovations being supported through new funding from the federal government.

Eighty projects across 25 lead agencies received $650 million in funding from the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2027.

This significant investment supports more than 50,000 researchers in medical research, synthetic biology and climate research – linked to the National Reconstruction Fund priorities.

New funding includes:

• $23m to the Australian National Fabrication Facility to maintain and upgrade facilities nationwide for projects such as pain-free diabetes tests, quantum technology manufacturing and sensors for driverless cars
• $47m for the Integrated Marine Observing System, led by the University of Tasmania, to boost real-time information for mineral exploration, fishing trawlers and marine resource management
• $19m for the Southern Coastal Research Vessel Fleet to build a research vessel to provide climate-change data to the South Australian government and local councils as well as the Commonwealth government
• And $55m to Bioplatforms Australia to position the nation as a world leader in synthetic biology, delivering new bioindustries, food and cutting-edge medical products.

NCRIS projects align with priority areas identified through the Government’s $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, including renewables and low emissions technologies, medical science, transport, value add in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and resources, as well as defence and enabling capabilities.

This funding is part of the $4 billion Australian Government investment in NCRIS from 2018 to 2029.

Picture: Australian National Fabrication Facility/WA node