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Innovate & collaborate
First funding round announced for $ 296m national PhD program
By Erin Nixon
A
$ 296 million-dollar national PhD program will support university researchers to undertake industry-focussed research projects , including the potential for AI to help predict the risk of heart disease .
Assistant Minister for Education Anthony Chisholm announced the first funding round of the National PhD program , part of the government ’ s $ 2.2 billion University Research Commercialisation Action Plan .
The minister said the initiative “ encourages innovation and collaboration between Australian industry and universities by funding doctoral programs designed with an industry application .”
Queensland University of Technology Professor Yuefeng Li was one of over 30 PhD candidates to be allocated funding .
His research aims to develop advanced artificial intelligence techniques to analyse retinal blood vessels .
“ In Australia , 1.2 million people have heart disease and 27 per cent of all deaths are related to diseases of the circulatory system ,” Professor Li said .
“ The project ’ s outcomes will contribute to cardiovascular disease risk prediction , early detection , and disease monitoring .”
Funding directed from the program will support Professor Li ’ s research to help experts use developing technologies to better understand the relationship between changes in retinal blood vessels and cardiovascular disease .
Professor Li will receive $ 46,000 annually for up to four years to support his research .
“ The program promotes collaboration between academic research and industry ,” Professor Li said .
“ This is particularly important for AI research where assumptions must be validated quickly and tested in a real-world environment .”
An estimated 1,800 industry PhDs will be funded over the next 10 years under the program .
The first round of the government initiative received a total of 86 applications .
So far , an estimated $ 5 million has been granted to PhD research solving
The program is supporting Australia ’ s next generation of researchers , creating diverse job opportunities , and bolstering Australian industry
key problems in health , agriculture and food production , environmental sustainability , tech and manufacturing , and artificial intelligence .
“ The program is supporting Australia ’ s next generation of researchers , creating diverse job opportunities , and bolstering Australian industry ,” Mr Chisholm said .
“ We will build a cohort of research talent who are skilled in university / industry collaboration .”
Applicants will have the option to undertake a research program under one of two streams – both in partnership with industry and an Australian university .
Participating universities will receive $ 10,000 per successful application in addition to funding granted to individual PhD candidates . ■
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