Research commercialisation and knowledge transfer in agriculture, manufacturing, space, and other key industries have earned QUT national recognition in three-of-six Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia (KCA) Australasian Research Commercialisation Awards announced last night.
Renowned QUT agricultural biotechnologist and humanitarian, Distinguished Professor James Dale and the Banana Biotechnology Program, commercialisation expert Dr Erin Rayment, and the Advanced Robotics Manufacturing (ARM) Hub received awards for translating research into economic, social or environmental benefits.
Professor Dale and the Banana Biotechnology Program from the QUT Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy received the KCA Award for Best Industry Collaboration for work between Australia and Africa that will impact future health, food security and biosecurity.
Through the QUT Banana Biotechnology Program, Professor Dale has been leading flagship projects to transform bananas for more than 25 years.
The multi-million-dollar Golden Banana project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is now close to farmer release of a pro-vitamin A fortified banana that will deliver life-saving health benefits to millions of people in Africa.
The Tropical Race 4 (TR4) Program has developed a genetically modified Cavendish banana resistant to the devastating TR4 disease.
Likely to be available for commercial production in 2024, the QCav-4 promises to protect the global Cavendish industry, worth up to US$25 billion annually.
For Australia’s $600 million industry, this includes protected employment for 9,600 Queenslanders involved in banana production, and restoration of the Northern Territory banana industry destroyed by TR4.
Interdisciplinary biologist Dr Erin Rayment also had a hand in supporting banana research outcomes and received the KCA Award for Research Commercialisation Professional of the Year for her leadership of QUT commercialisation and industry engagement.
Dr Rayment managed the multi-million-dollar commercialisation partnership between QUT and Fresh Del Monte that promises to deliver gene edited TR4-resistant Cavendish bananas.
Prior to joining QUT, she led strategic research projects for Griffith University and the University of Southern Queensland, including its 10-year R&D partnership with John Deere that resulted in the licencing of an industry-first spray solution that reduced herbicide use and increased farming efficiencies.
The QUT-led ARM Hub was also recognised for helping to place Australian technologies and innovation on the world stage with the KCA Award for Best Knowledge Exchange Initiative.
In the past two years, ARM Hub has supported more than 700 businesses to develop commercial solutions, formed five global partnerships, and raised $40 million in project funds for industry.
Established in 2020, it de-risks AI and robotic technology adoption, development, and commercialisation for Australian manufacturers by drawing together scientists, technical specialists, designers, and engineers to work with industry to develop commercial solutions.
ARM Hub has already helped launch three new products and services, including technologies to advance space travel and heavy lifting operations.
Valiant Space, SkyKraft and ARM Hub with funding from the Australian Space Agency developed a new propellant valve for the flagship VS-1 thruster and tested it on a SpaceX mission last October at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Australian company Verton engaged ARM Hub in a product development collaboration that led to a world-first remote controlled and fully autonomous load management system.
The KCA Awards were presented on 1 September during the KCA Annual Conference 2022
31 August – 2 September, Melbourne.
