The McGowan Government has secured $39 million to purchase a diverse range of new world-class tools to advance scientific research in Western Australia and support WA jobs in STEM industries.
This State Government has committed $10.5 million over the next three years, and secured an $8.8 million co-investment from WA research institutions and $19.8 million investment from the Commonwealth's National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy.
The funding will go towards state-of-the-art equipment, some of which has never been available to WA researchers before, for use by the research sector, industry and government to support the State priority areas of health, mining, food, energy, environment and space.
New world-class equipment coming to Western Australia includes:
- WA's first cryo-electron microscopes for revolutionary analysis of snap-frozen samples in biomedical, agricultural, environmental and materials research;
- Equipment for advanced fabrication of sensors, including for defence applications;
- A reference site of moored instruments at Ningaloo Reef for marine observations;
- Ecosystem observation infrastructure to help protect and manage Western Australia's unique terrestrial ecosystems; and
- The latest tools for genetic, protein and metabolite research with health, agricultural and environmental applications.
As stated by Science Minister Dave Kelly:
"Western Australia needs world-leading facilities to support research that underpins our research reputation nationally and internationally, and to support the jobs of the future.
"This funding will go towards new infrastructure to turbocharge scientific advances and innovation that will support WA jobs and benefit the State's economy, community and environment.
"From large scale studies of the Ningaloo Reef with Ocean Gliders, to microscopic analysis of soil samples with electron microscopes, the benefits of this funding will be felt across Western Australia.
"It will also contribute to attracting talented researchers, PhD students, national and international collaborators, additional research funding and new industry opportunities to the State."
