The Federal Government’s $2.2B University Research Commercialisation (URC) Action Plan will be a game changer for the Central Coast, according to Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks.
The Plan, which places university innovation and industry collaboration front and centre of Australia’s economic recovery, sets out priorities to supercharge the generation and translation of Australian research into new commercial products that will provide the basis for the innovative new businesses and jobs of the future.
Acting Minister for Education and Youth Stuart Robert said the Action Plan was the product of over 12 months of extensive consultation with business and research leaders, led by the University Research Commercialisation Taskforce, and builds on best practice experience in Australia and internationally.
“The … Plan will create stronger links between business and industry and focus effort in the six National Manufacturing Priority areas to drive commercial returns,” he said.
“Under our plan, we will triple the number of industry PhDs by adding 1,800 industry PhDs and over 800 industry Fellows over 10 years.”
Wicks said she was excited about the connection between world-leading research being developed in Gosford and more local jobs and opportunities for people on the Central Coast.
“(This Plan) provides the financial support necessary to take new ideas and foster their development and progress their way towards commercialisation, and the new products and innovative technologies that provide the basis for new businesses and jobs,” she said.
“The Central Coast’s strengths in innovation, entrepreneurialism, manufacturing and health put our region in a unique position to take advantage of the opportunity this action plan represents.
“The vision for the Central Coast Clinical School and Research Institute was always about making Gosford known as a region of excellence.
“For too long our region has been forgotten and left behind and, with this action plan, regions like ours have the opportunity to leap ahead to become economic powerhouses for our nation.”
The Plan focuses on the commercialisation of the six national manufacturing priority areas: resources and critical minerals; food and beverage; medical products; recycling and clean energy; and defence and space.
As well as the medical products sector presenting great possibilities for the Central Coast Research Institute, the Plan could also be used by Newcastle University’s Ourimbah campus in the resources and critical minerals sector, she said.
Source:
Media release, Feb 2
Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks