AgTech and Logistics Hub, together with AgriFood Connect, will play a key role in a $160m project to speed up commercialisation in the food and beverage sector.
The Hub will engage industry and researchers as part of The University of Queensland-led project, which has just secured $50 million in federal ‘Trailblazing’ funding.
The university and its collaborators and industry partners, including AgriFood Connect, Telstra and FKG Group, are also investing another $110 million in the project that’s expected to attract $1 billion investment into the sector and create thousands of jobs.
“AgriFood Connect and the Hub are thrilled to partner with UQ for this exciting project, which will accelerate commercialisation within the sector by translating research into new technologies,” Agtech and Logistics Hub Director Thomas Hall said.
“We are particularly looking forward to the development of regional infrastructure where researchers and industry will work together, including in Toowoomba.”
As part of the project, regional ‘Translator Spaces’ will be created to accelerate industry engagement and commercialisation. One of these spaces will be established in a ‘UQ Innovation Centre’, to be located within the AATLIS precinct at Toowoomba.
The Innovation Centre will house AgriFood Connect, the delivery partner for the program to accelerate innovation in the food and beverage sector which aims to bridge the gap between university-led research and commercialisation of new products and ventures.
The Innovation Centre will be a shopfront for industry, a highly digitally enabled environment where industry and researchers can collaborate and commercialise. Industry partners, including equipment suppliers, will be able to access the facility as needed. Open and private spaces will also be provided to students to train in real-world environments with their future employers at the doorstep.
“The university-led project is partnering with AgriFood Connect to broaden the scope of the AgTech and Logistics Hub to food tech,” he explained.
“The Hub will also take a lead role in the program by engaging industry and researchers in open innovation challenges, accelerator programs and innovation.
“AgTech and Logistics Hub, together with AgriFood Connect, are looking forward to working closely with UQ to turbocharge commercialisation and growth in Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing sector.”