Australia’s national science agency CSIRO is inviting Queensland’s small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with innovative ideas to take part in ‘Innovate to Grow: Queensland’ program to transform these ideas into research-ready projects across a range of sectors.
The free eight-week research and development (R&D) training program will guide businesses through developing and implementing R&D strategies with support from experienced researchers and industry mentors – with a focus on collaborations with regional universities.
Innovate to Grow Queensland is open to Queensland-based SMEs working on innovative technologies or solutions across a range of sectors, including:
- Agriculture and food
- Digital technology and AI
- Environmental sciences
- Health and biomedical sciences
- Indigenous science
- Manufacturing
- Mining and mining equipment, technology, and services
- Renewables and low emissions technologies
- Space and defence
- Transport
Queensland Chief Scientist, Professor Kerrie Wilson, said this training will equip SMEs with the tools to build partnerships with regional universities to commercialise their innovative ideas and drive economic growth.
RUIC Program Facilitator, Dr Brendan Kidd, added the program addresses a critical need in Queensland’s innovation ecosystem.
“One of the biggest challenges for SMEs is knowing how to effectively engage with the research sector,” Dr Kidd said. “CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow bridges that gap by teaching businesses how to speak the language of R&D, identify the right research partners, and structure their projects in ways that attract both research interest and potential funding opportunities.”
CSIRO noted that more than one-third of the 650 participants from CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow program have been from regional Australia.
Innovate to Grow Queensland is delivered as part of the Regional University Industry Collaboration (RUIC), a program funded by the Queensland Government and delivered by CSIRO. Partner universities are James Cook University, Central Queensland University, University of Southern Queensland and University of the Sunshine Coast.
