Australian govn't pledges to fund top research projects

The Australian government will fund nearly 1,000 science and technological research projects as part of the government's effort to promote Australia's innovation, Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham announced Tuesday.

Birmingham said the government will allocate some 416.6 million AU dollars (319.5 million U.S. dollars) to fund 989 new research projects.

The biggest winners include the Australian National University, which gets 502,453 AU dollars (385,000 U.S. dollars) to create a laser system for the first laser guide star for use in astronomy, satellite tracking and mitigation of the threat of space debris.

The University of Wollongong will also get 652,000 AU dollars (500,000 U.S. dollars) to develop innovative technologies for high-performance lithium-ion batteries for portable electronic devices, including electric vehicles.

Other highlighted projects include the one by Curtin University investigating how smartphones can assist people with a disability to navigate essential services, and the Queensland University of Technology project aiming to develop best practice solutions to improve the living environment of retirement villages and the quality of life for ageing people.

Universities Australia, the advocate body for Australian universities, welcomed the funding, saying it will help to secure future prosperity for Australia through world-class university research.

Universities Australia Chief Executive Belinda Robinson said such grants were a clear-sighted investment in research that would lead to new economic opportunities and health and medical breakthroughs.

"From projects that could save lives to those which tackle poverty, generate clean energy, reveal our human history or progress quantum computing, university research has real-world benefits for all Australians," Robinson said.

"These projects are led by some of Australia's most outstanding researchers working on some of our biggest problems. It's fantastic to see these exciting projects being nurtured in Australia's world-class universities," she said.

This year's funding pool is 59 million AU dollars (45 million U.S. dollars) more than the 357 million (273 million U.S. dollars) awarded in 2015. The number of grants has also increased from 899 to 989 since last year. Endit