The University of New South Wales (UNSW) has received over $11 million in grants, the highest in the latest round of the federal government’s Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) program.
The five projects awarded span artificial intelligence and health technology among others. $1.47 million was awarded to create a system for the rapid diagnostics of house dust mites and bedbugs in the medical sector in partnership with Jasgo R&D. Another project, led by Frontier SI, was granted $2.9 million to deliver secure digital valuation models and tools that cover a broad range of land and property types across Australia and overseas.
$3 million has been provided for a project in partnership with Flame Security International to develop an autonomous intelligent fire prediction and suppression system, with a world-first, non-toxic, eco-friendly, flame retardant for use in furniture, clothing, cars and construction materials.
A health-related project in partnership with Orpeus received $2.1 million for the development of a transport device for donor hearts that will make more hearts available for more patients. Another $2.1 million was awarded to a project led by Nutromics that will develop a digitally enabled wearable device and a deep learning behaviour change engine to help advance preventative measures for type 2 diabetes.
UNSW Deputy vice-chancellor for research, Professor Nicholas Fisk, congratulated the University’s researchers on securing the most grants and funding in this round.
“This program allows our researchers to interact with industry in a meaningful way and take new technology to market, so it’s pleasing to see our researchers participating in versatile projects across so many disciplines,” Fisk said.
More than $40 million worth of grants were delivered to 19 projects as part of the sixth round of the program announced by federal industry minister Karen Andrews late December. Of the 19 recipients, 13 of the projects that focus on artificial intelligence will also be supported through additional funding received in the 2018-19 budget.