Media Release
26 February 2020
A $40,000 partnership between the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute’s (AMSI) APR.Intern program and Food Innovation Australia Limited (FIAL) will accelerate STEM PhD research talent into food and agriculture businesses nationally.
Announced today, FIAL will provide food and beverage businesses with a subsidy of up to $4,000 on the cost of a PhD student research placement. Facilitated by APR.Intern, the 3-5 month placements connect the FIAL network and food sector with some of Australia’s brightest PhD-level research talent. The FIAL subsidy can also be used as a travel/relocation fund to support student access to internship opportunities.
Further to the FIAL subsidy, under the Australian Government’s National Research Internship Program (NRIP)*, businesses may receive a 50 per cent rebate on remaining costs.
AMSI Director, Professor Tim Brown, welcomed the opportunity to partner with FIAL to open opportunities for PhD students to develop industry skills while helping drive real-world food and agriculture innovation.
“We are excited to partner with FIAL in opening this powerful platform for Australian universities to complement specialist PhD training with industry experience, while delivering real-world innovation solutions,” said Professor Brown.
The most recent of a series of partnerships the program has forged to facilitate university and industry research innovation within growth sectors, Director of AMSI’s APR.Intern program, Gary Hogan AM, said the placements delivered a boost for the food and agriculture sector and the objectives of NRIP.
“Contributing to the delivery of NRIP, the FIAL placements under APR.Intern will allow food and agricultural businesses to cost-effectively tap into specialist research talent and advance Australian agricultural innovation,” he said.
With Australia’s food and agricultural sector facing challenges due to drought, flood and fire, innovation is key to the future success of the industry.
“Collaboration between PhD research specialists and industry is key. Both are integral in identifying and commercially implementing exciting innovation opportunities,” said FIAL General Manager of Innovation, Dr. Barry McGookin.
Businesses within the food sector are encouraged to learn more – and apply – for a FIAL-supported PhD placement: aprintern.org.au/partnerships-fial/
About Food Innovation Australia Limited (FIAL)
Food Innovation Australia Limited (FIAL) is the catalyst that encourages the food and agribusiness industry to work collaboratively to grow the share of Australian food in the global marketplace. FIAL influences the industry by sharing knowledge, building capability and creating connections.
About APR.Intern
Australian Postgraduate Research Intern (APR.Intern) is Australia’s only national all-sector all-discipline PhD internship program. The program connects PhD students with industry through short-term research projects, empowering students to thrive in a practical research environment. For businesses, APR.Intern is a platform to access some of Australia’s brightest PhD-level research talent and tap into new worlds of innovation. For further Information visit, https://aprintern.org.au.
More Information:
FIAL Partnership: https://aprintern.org.au/partnerships-fial/
Australian Government 50% Rebate: https://aprintern.org.au/business-info/costs-rebates/govrebate/
*Eligible internships are supported by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training, through the ‘Supporting more women in STEM careers: Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) – National Research Internship Program’.
For Interview:
- Professor Tim Brown, Director, AMSI
- Gary Hogan, Program Director, APR.Intern
- James Krahe, Innovation Manager, FIAL
Media Contact:
Jo Piltz
E: j.piltz@aprintern.org.au
P: 03 9035 8237
