UQ to Establish 5 Research Hubs, Training Centres for Workforce Needs

The University of Queensland will establish five national research hubs and training centres to address future workforce and technology needs, supported by $24.6 million from the Australian Research Council's Industrial Transformation Research Program (ITRP).

More than 200 researchers will work alongside 78 partners from government, industry and universities to address workforce shortages and technological gaps across clean energy and advanced materials, livestock and agriculture, and cybersecurity.

Industrial Transformation Research Hubs 2026:

• Professor Jianhua Guo , Chief investigator - position Australia as a leader in contaminant management in clean energy and advanced materials by translating innovative technologies into products for global markets and creating a more sustainable environment for urban and rural communities.

• Professor Ryan Ko , Chief investigator - advance quantum computing capabilities to secure current IT systems and prevent cyberattacks, reducing associated costs estimated at $33 billion.

• Professor Liu Ye , Chief investigator - develop new treatment solutions and digital tools to help sustainable wastewater management and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Industrial Transformation Training Centres 2026:

• The ARC Training Centre for Animal Reproductive Biotechnologies (CARB), led by Associate Professor Marina Fortes - build the future agricultural workforce by training industry-ready researchers in livestock reproduction, sustainable food production and biodiversity conservation.

• The Adv-BioCrop Centre, led by Professor Olufemi (Femi) Akinsanmi - train the skilled professional workforce needed to improve the capability, regulation and safe use of biopesticides, delivering benefits through protected crop value, healthier environments, and new products for farmers.