Ten grants represent the biggest ARC Linkage success for more than a decade
University of Tasmania will undertake research ranging from a major advance in the technology of bulk-ore transhipment to the development of a vaccine to protect Tasmanian devils following the announcement of national funding of projects valued at nearly $12 million.
The funding includes $3.4 million in cash from the Australian Research Council's 2013 Linkage Projects round, plus a further $8.5 million in cash and in-kind support from industry partners, the University and government.
"The 10 grants awarded to the University by the ARC represent our biggest success in a single Linkage Projects funding round for more than a decade," the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Rathjen, said.
"In these uncertain times for the higher education sector it is reassuring to see that the quality of our research continues to be recognised at a national and indeed, international, level. Much of this research has global application but the economic benefits for the Tasmanian economy are also clear."
Among the partner organisations involved in the University projects are companies and institutions based in China, Korea, the USA, Canada and Norway; major multinationals such as BHP Billiton and other leading Australian universities.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Prof Paddy Nixon, said this latest funding outcome follows last month's announcement of $27 million in Industrial Transformation Research funding from the ARC.
"As with the Industrial Transformation Research funding, our success in the Linkage Projects round underscores the fact that the University of Tasmania is one of the leading industry-partnered research institutions in the country."
The 10 University of Tasmania projects to receive ARC Linkage funding are: