Queensland and Chinese researchers will be able to apply for scientific research grants of up to $250,000 as part of a program being jointly funded by the Department of Environment and Science and China’s leading research organisation.
Minister for Science, Leeanne Enoch said Queensland had a strong, longstanding partnership with the Chinese Government’s Ministry of Science and Technology to support highly innovative research and development between the two.
“The Queensland-Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Collaborative Science Fund is jointly funded by the Queensland Government and the Chinese Academy of Science,” Ms Enoch said.
“The fund aims to establish or strengthen collaborative research alliances between Queensland and Chinese researchers and organisations to deliver innovative products, technologies or processes that address current or future scientific challenges.”
She said the coronavirus outbreak was an example of why it was important to maintain a strong science relationship with China.
“This year, projects must focus on one of three priority areas – agricultural biotechnology and food research, human health and medical research or environmental science,” the Minister said.
“The Chinese Academy of Science is China’s peak research organisation and is delivering highly innovative developments in the natural and technological science fields through its two universities and 110 specialist institutes.”
She said a previous successful project involved researchers from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, based at the University of Queensland, and the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth in Beijing.
“They worked together to study how remote sensing technology can be used to develop crop yield prediction systems to help farmers better cope with seasonal weather extremes and climate change,” Ms Enoch said.
“This project allowed both countries to strengthen their ties in the crop science and earth observation research disciplines.”
