Funding to boost Queensland smarts
Queensland’s reputation as Australia’s Smart State is set to roar ahead, fuelled by a massive boost of $473 million in new funding over the next four years.
The second stage of the Smart State Strategy, Smart Queensland, was launched
in April and will drive innovation over the next 10 years.
In recent years, Queensland has emerged as a hub for excellent research, development,
commercialisation and innovation.
“If we continue to innovate in traditional industries and foster emerging industries, Queensland has the power to grow into a global giant,” Premier Peter Beattie said.
“This strategy is about making that happen.”
Smart Queensland: Smart State Strategy 2005-2015 includes more than $200 million
in funding over the next four years to build new research infrastructure and
support innovation.
Initiatives include:
- three new innovation funds, totalling $200 million, and an extra $20 million for the Smart State Research Facilities Fund
- an education package backed by $127 million, including $56 million to convert all 1300 state schools into Smart Classrooms and $46 million for two new high school academies of excellence
- the Golden Casket Medical Research Foundation, based on $1.3 million interest earned on more than $23 million in unclaimed prize money
- $1 million for biotechnology research to control cane toads
- an extra $51.5 million in new funding for water initiatives and $2.4 million for the Queensland-based International Water Centre
- $20 million to boost mining exploration
- $7.3 million for an ethanol plan
- $4 million for the aquaculture industry and $1.5 million for the horticulture industry to target new Asian export markets
- $7 million towards a facility to enable biotech organisations to do more development of potentially life-saving drugs
- $1.4 million for Australia's first biotech "pipeline."
- a $128 million Innovation Building Fund to establish pioneering research and innovation institutes, facilities, and centres of excellence in Queensland and fund major items of research equipment
- a $12 million Innovation Skills Fund to attract and retain top researchers and PhD students to Queensland
- a $60 million Innovation Projects Fund to support research, development and innovation projects in priority areas including health, agriculture, biotechnology and nanotechnology.
