NSW Government provides $23.4 million to NSW Research & Innovation Networks
The NSW Government has announced an extension in funding support for its NSW Research & Innovation Networks.
The three networks – the NSW Smart Sensing Network, Defence Innovation Network and Space Research Network – are university-led initiatives that aim to enhance NSW capability by driving collaboration between industry, government and research institutions in priority sectors.
The networks also provide a unified ‘front door’ for collaboration in areas of strategic strength, enhancing NSW's potential to attract and leverage national and international R&D funding opportunities.
The three networks will now be funded for a further four years, to 2029-30. Each network has seen its funding increase from $1 million/year to $1.3 million/year. The total network funding for the six years from 2024/25 to 2029/30 is $23.4 million.
NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte said:
“The NSW Government’s Research & Innovation Network model has been highly successful in promoting collaboration between industry and universities, providing a coordinated contact point in NSW for specific research sectors and accelerating sector research translation and commercialisation.
“The NSW Smart Sensing Network currently has 26 active projects valued at $16.2 million taking place across five themes: natural hazards, smart places, human health, net zero and environment & agriculture. The Defence Innovation Network since its inception in 2017 has supported 48 projects, directly attracting over $125 million in external investment to NSW.
“Our research networks operate in areas where NSW has considerable capacity and capability. This funding extension over a six-year period guarantees stability, allowing them to recruit and retain staff through long-term contracts. This in turn allows them to scale up their activities, attracting further R&D funding both at a national and international level, and bringing more projects to NSW.”
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Bruce Ritchie | OCSE | 0429 412 426