$30 million to support research infrastructure

Australian universities will receive almost $30 million from the Australian Government to fund important infrastructure, capitalizing on links with industry, which will equip researchers with tools to conduct world-class research.

Minister for Education, the Hon. Christopher Pyne MP, announced the funding today, awarded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) under its Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) scheme.

“This scheme is an important funding source as it provides our researchers with the resources they need to undertake their research and ability to collaborate with industry and international partners.

“A total of 66 new LIEF research projects will commence next year and our universities will collaborate with 86 organisations and industry partners from across the globe. These collaborating organisations will contribute a further $95 million in cash and in-kind.”

University projects set to receive funding in the 2015 LIEF funding round include:

• Southern Cross University who will use cutting edge geo-chemical infrastructure to study abiotic and biotic interactions in changing environments ($170 000).
• Charles Darwin University who will develop state-of-the-art Unmanned Airborne System capability to support field data acquisition with applications for environmental monitoring, disaster management and recording significant indigenous cultural sites ($183 413).
• The University of Tasmania who will deploy geophysical equipment, including global navigation satellite systems, in Antarctica, to further understand how Earth responds to changes in stress within the crust and upper mantle, and to further strengthen Australia's emerging expertise in polar geophysics ($190 000).
• The University of New South Wales who will partner with the Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLII), to massively expand free online access to Australasian legal history through digitisation and data aggregation ($410 000).
• The University of Adelaide who will develop a world-class (and Australian first) three-dimensional dynamic testing facility, including blast and earthquake simulations, field robotics, automotive safety research, and flight/vehicle simulation ($400 000).

This announcement of 66 LIEF projects is part of the 2015 ARC Major Grants announcement totalling $354 million for 941 research projects. A table of funding awarded across Australia is attached.

For a full list of funded LIEF projects please visit theARC website. To view a selection of projects by State and Territory please view the example sheets in themediaannouncementkit.