- Landmark Cook Government investment programs to support health and medical research, and innovation
- $110 million package for operational and indirect costs of research and capital upgrades
- $10 million in new facilities and equipment co-funding opportunities
- WA’s Future Health Research and Innovation Fund continues to deliver a strong foundation for researchers, and innovators
Premier Roger Cook and Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson today announced a $110 million funding package to assist Western Australian organisations that are developing innovative responses to health challenges.
The funding will be channelled into two new programs through the Cook Government’s successful Future Health Research and Innovation Fund (FHRI).
The new Research Infrastructure Support program will provide funding to research institutes, universities, and hospitals to cover the indirect costs of their work and expenses associated with running shared facilities, services, and equipment.
In addition, the FHRI Fund Enabling Scheme will deliver a further $10 million to improve health and medical research, and innovation facilities and equipment.
This will co-fund eligible research and innovation organisations to upgrade existing laboratories or facilities, and purchase major equipment.
Those eligible may include universities, research and innovation institutions, public and private health service providers, hospitals, non-government organisations, and private entities.
Applications are open via thewebsiteand close on Thursday, 4 April 2024.
Since its inception, the FHRI Fund has awarded more than $100 million in grants to 480 recipients, with $250 million available over four years.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
“Medical research presents important opportunities for Western Australia – helping to diversify our economy, and create local jobs, while positioning our State as a leader in vital research and innovation.
“Our very successful Future Health Research and Innovation Fund is driving health and medical research, innovation, and commercialisation in WA, to improve the health and prosperity of our community.
“These new funding programs will be a game-changer, providing more targeted support for our research institutes, universities, and hospitals to deliver world-class research, and medical responses.
“Backing this dynamic sector will pay dividends for our State in the future – as research breakthroughs are transformed into business opportunities, helping to drive our economy forward.”
As stated by Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson:
“Western Australia has a striking track record in global medical research breakthroughs.
“From the Helicobacter pylori bacterium – which earned Drs Barry Marshall AC and Robin Warren AC a Nobel Prize – to Professor Fiona Wood’s (AO) spray-on skin, and more.
“With this new funding for research and innovation infrastructure we are setting our State up for greater collaborations and partnerships, and making WA a place of choice for world-leading researchers and innovators.
“We are enabling our brightest minds to do what they do best – and I’ve no doubt that by providing this support to the sector, we will see major advances in treatments and prevention of diseases in the future.
“It’s another major win-win for medical research and the WA community.”
