Up to $125,000 is available for collaborative research projects aiming to deliver future economic, social & environmental benefits for Queensland and China.
Queensland-Chinese Academy of Sciences (Q-CAS) Collaborative Science Fund
The Queensland-Chinese Academy of Sciences (Q-CAS) Collaborative Science Fund supports joint research by scientists in Queensland and at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The fund encourages important scientific and technical research collaborations that aim to deliver future economic, social and environmental benefits for Queensland and China.
Objective
The Q-CAS Collaborative Science Fund objectives are to:
- increase the number of, and strengthen, collaborations between Queensland and CAS researchers and institutes to foster the exchange of ideas, information, skills, techniques and knowledge
- enable Queensland and Chinese researchers to conduct mutually beneficial projects that deliver economic, social and/or environmental benefits to Queensland and China by developing new or improved products, processes or systems that have the potential to be commercialised or have public good applications within the identified priority areas
- raise the national and international research profile of Queensland and China and build a critical mass of internationally recognised and competitive research, development and innovation networks.
Funding
Grants of A$125,000 (excluding GST) are available to Queensland recipients, over a maximum of 2 years. In addition, the Chinese lead participant in approved projects will receive A$125,000 from the CAS.
Eligible Projects
The Q-CAS Collaborative Science Fund helps Queensland and Chinese researchers to jointly undertake practical and applied science and research projects in the following priority areas:
- agricultural biotechnology and food research, including food safety
- Human health including immunology and neuroscience
- Energy
Eligible project costs include:
- Salary costs for project staff
- Project consumables
- Travel directly related to the project activities outlined in the submitted application
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include Queensland and China research organisations who must:
- Have a lead applicant organisation that will be Queensland-based for the duration of the project.
- Have an Australian Business Number and is registered for GST.
- Have a lead participant that will be an eligible CAS-affiliated institute for the duration of the project.
- Involve a research organisation in Queensland (including higher education institutions, cooperative research centres, research institutes and relevant government agencies) and an eligible research organisation funded by CAS (a list of eligible CAS institutions can be obtained from the Q-CAS Collaborative Science Fund Important Information for Applicants).
Timing
Applications close 26 February 2016.
2016 Grant Recipients
| Recipient | Project name | Funding amount | Project description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queensland University of Technology | Advancing nanotechnology to make thin film supercapacitors based on graphene | $125,000 | This project will develop an alternative to batteries by using graphene supercapacitor for an array of products currently relying on batteries such as electric cars, mobile phones and solar energy storage |
| Griffith University | Developing whole parasite malaria vaccine | $125,000 | This project will develop a whole parasite malaria vaccine to produce a liposome-targeted vaccine capable of inducing both cellular and anti-body mediated immune responses |
| The University of Queensland | Advancing ultrahigh-field MRI based neuroimaging | $125,000 | This project will develop new MRI hardware and techniques to view schizophrenia in the human brain, including the use of MRI scans to predict the risk of schizophrenia as well as gain an understanding of how the biologically based illness emerges. Research will define neuroimaging biomarkers of schizophrenia that might lead to earlier diagnosis and management of the disease |
2015 Grant Recipients
| Recipient | Project name | Funding amount | Project description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Griffith University | Ancient Knowledge, Modern Methods | $125,000 | This project will analyse and test traditional Chinese medicines to determine their mechanism of action, and accelerate their acceptance by Western regulatory agencies. |
| Queensland University of Technology | Clean, Low-Cost Solar Electricity | $125,000 | This project will develop new materials and technologies to make durable, non-toxic, high-efficiency solar cells using a low-cost method. |