https://www.miningweekly.com

Resource companies support Qld's STEM ambitions

4th May 2022

By: Esmarie Iannucci

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor: Australasia

     

Font size: - +

PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Resources companies Rio Tinto and Australia Pacific LNG will join a host of other companies in Queensland partnering with the state government on regional science and innovation hubs.

Under the government’s Partner Up Queensland Regional Science and Innovation Network, the hubs aim to provide people living in regional Queensland opportunities for skills development and establish local networks that will drive growth and development in the science sector and innovation economy throughout regional Queensland, jobs and the state’s economic recovery from Covid-19.

Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing Glenn Butcher said the Central Queensland Hub will be led by CQUniversity and will be supported by the Inspiring Australia STEM hub network, the Gladstone Connects team, Gladstone Regional Council, Australia Pacific LNG, Rio Tinto, StartUp Gladstone, Boyne Island Environmental Education Centre and the Coastal Marine Ecosystem Research Centre.

“Led by local science and innovation champions within the community, this is about giving mentoring, networking and collaboration opportunities; the engagement of youth in design, implementation, product pitching and entrepreneurship; and engagement with researchers, technologies experts, business and Indigenous mentors,” Butcher said.

“We really want to see how businesses, research organisations and industry can meet the changing scientific and innovation needs of the community.”

Science Minister Meaghan Scanlon said each regional hub will be provided with funding of up to A$70 000 over 12 months to employ a regional coordinator to support events, activities and projects that encourage Queenslanders’ participation and awareness of science and innovation within their region.

In total, three regional hubs will be established - in Gladstone, Toowoomba and Cairns - that will enable individuals and community groups to participate in a range of science, technology, engineering and mathematics- (STEM-) based and innovation-related activities.

“Science and innovation are helping to drive the Queensland government’s Covid-19 economic recovery plan, whether that’s through renewable energy, advanced manufacturing or our education and research sector,” Scanlon said.

“Survey results from the 3M State of Science Index show that nine in ten Australians back more investment in science.

“The survey results also showed that during the pandemic, nearly two in three Australians thought that scientists and medical professionals are inspiring a new generation to pursue a science-based career.

“Recent research commissioned by the Office of the Queensland Chief Scientist showed that 83% of Queenslanders believe science is critical for the Queensland economy.

“That’s why we’re delivering these hubs, together with major investments like A$20-million as part of our flagship Queensland Jobs fund to ramp up the development and manufacture of vaccines.”

Innovation Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the hubs would help to supercharge regional Queensland science and innovation.

“For local entrepreneurs and business leaders, the hubs aim to deliver support and partnerships to identify and develop real-world opportunities. Whether it’s robots, hydrogen or medical technology, we know science and innovation will be critical to building regional Queensland’s industries and jobs of the future.”   

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

The content you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION