Science and Research

Science Leveraging Fund

The NSW Government understands the important role that strong research and development capability plays in supporting the State's leadership position within the Australian economy and its importance in growing a highly skilled workforce that drives innovation.

That is why the Government is continuing to significantly invest in research and development to help underpin our State's future prosperity through the Science Leveraging Fund.

The Fund is designed to add to the State's research and development capacity by increasing the competitiveness of bids made by NSW research consortia, to a range of Commonwealth research funding programs.

It has been used to support NSW bids under Commonwealth programs such as:

• the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS), and Super Science initiative to develop world-class research infrastructure and expertise that can used by universities, government agencies and NSW businesses;
• the Cooperative Research Centres Program (CRC Program), which supports consortia of industry and public organisations undertaking research and development that address real world applications specific to an industry sector or social issue;
• the Australian Research Council Centres of Excellence Program, which build concentrations of research excellence in globally significant areas; and
• the Australian Solar Institute research program which fosters research collaborations between public and private sector researchers with the focus on increasing the cost competitiveness of solar energy systems and technologies.

The fund is an important innovation tool, allowing the NSW Government to invest across the innovation landscape to provide research infrastructure, skills development, education and training in line with the State's policy priorities in areas such as Health, Agriculture, alternative energy, ICT and Climate Change

Contact

Alexandra Gibson
Senior Manager
Office for Science and Research
NSW Department of Trade and Investment
Phone: + 61 2 9338 6790
Email: Alexandra.Gibson@business.nsw.gov.au

*'Research consortia' are collaborations which are established to address distinct research questions or support the development of critical and distinct research infrastructure, and which comprise at least one NSW university or recognised NSW public sector research organisation as the main project proponent, and other partners including universities, research organisations, government agencies, private sector organisations, industry groups or other entities.