Minister for Industry and Science visits MHTP

Industry-research collaboration making gains for Australia.

Advances in Australia’s science and research infrastructure are laying the platform for significant community and economic benefits, Minister for Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane said last week while visiting three cutting-edge facilities at Monash University and the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP), illustrating the advantages of greater research and industry collaboration.

Mr Macfarlane said the Computer Aided Virtual Environment (CAVE2), the Monash Centre for Additive Manufacturing, and the Translational Research Facility (TRF) being constructed at the MHTP are examples of the diverse range of fields in which Australian researchers have a competitive edge.

“These facilities at Monash University’s Clayton campus and the Monash Health Translation Precinct provide crystal clear examples of the type of collaboration the Australian Government wants to encourage across all of the economy, because they are turning world-class scientific research into real-world and commercial applications,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“These facilities all have capabilities to make both a local and global impact in their essential fields."

“By providing cutting edge research facilities in disciplines such as big data visualisation, aerospace and biomedical engineering and bench-to-bedside health research translation they offer significant opportunities for connections between industry and researchers in these fields."

“Collaboration is essential to realise the full benefit of our international standard universities, enabling Australia to move towards higher value-added industries that based on innovation and research.”

Mr Macfarlane said the Australian Government is committed to creating stronger links between research, science and industry to ensure competitiveness into the future.

“Science is at the heart of industry policy, and we are investing in science and industry infrastructure to ensure that science and research are driving growth in productivity and competiveness.

“The Australian Government’s Industry Growth Centres will also facilitate stronger connections between industry and research in the critical areas of food and agribusiness; advanced manufacturing; mining equipment, technology and services; oil, gas and energy resources; and medical technologies and pharmaceuticals.

“A coordinated approach will be applied to existing and new science and research measures through a national policy that will articulate our strategic, long-term vision for the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sector.”

The Government will consult with the community, including the business and research sectors, as part of the development of the national science policy, to be released later this year. Information on opportunities to participate will be available on science.gov.au.