The program brings together PhD candidates and industry partners to solve real-world challenges, building Australia’s future workforce while driving innovation, productivity and economic growth.
Read about some of the innovative projects making an impact across Australia.
AI powered network delivering real-world benefits
The NIPhD Program has celebrated its first completed project, TeraStream, a successful collaboration between UNSW, Canopus Networks and PhD candidate Yifan Wang that showcases the power of industry-academic research partnerships.
By developing AI-driven tools to analyse network traffic at terabit speeds, the project delivered both cutting-edge research and real-world commercial outcomes, with technologies now embedded in Canopus Networks’ platform to enhance video streaming, cloud gaming and user experience monitoring for millions of users.
The project produced peer-reviewed publications, a patent application and significant industry impact, while equipping Yifan with the skills to bridge academia and industry.
Industry supervisor, Maheesha Perera said the project demonstrates how university-industry partnerships can “generate impactful innovation while developing the next generation of industry researchers and technology leaders.”
Stronger, safer, smarter sport for women
Newcastle Knights Director of Football, Chris James and University of Newcastle lecturer, Dr Josh Secomb are working with female rugby league players to pinpoint what drives top performance.
Dr Secomb will work with the players over 3 years to create a high-performance framework, helping athletes grow their skills while reducing injury risk.
The research will help coaches train smarter, support athlete development, and advance gender equity across Australian sport.
“The key feature of this is establishing a framework and pathway that’s going to benefit not only the female rugby league athletes in our region, but also nationally,” said Dr Secomb.
“I’m hopeful the project will allow us to strengthen and optimise the skills and minimise the injury risk for female athletes. Up until now, we’ve applied what’s worked for male athletes to female athletes.”
It is groundbreaking work for the National Rugby League Women’s competition with the potential to tailor high-performance models to female athletes in other sports nationwide, including AFL, rugby union, and soccer.
