South Australian research infrastructure receives a funding boost
The South Australian Government has announced $6.77 million of funding to support four of the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) facilities based at the University of Adelaide - including the Australian Plant Phenomics Facility (APPF).
This will be matched by $7.2 million funding from the University, and adds to $21.67 million NCRIS funding from the Australian Government for a total investment in research capability of $35.64 million.
The funding will support:
- The APPF's Adelaide node, The Plant Accelerator® ($2,250,000 SA Government, $12,250,000 total);
- Microscopy Australia's Adelaide node ($2,345,000 SA Government, $7,639,000 total investment);
- Optofab Adelaide, part of the Australian National Fabrication Facility ($1,576,000 SA Government, $6,304,000 total);
- The Adelaide node of the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) ($600,000 SA Government, $9,450,000 total).
“We know that South Australian industry and business needs to be powered by world-class research. At the University of Adelaide we have a strong track record of bringing together research excellence and unique facilities with industry expertise and investment".
"The new NCRIS funding will see investment for data analytics and machine learning development, in partnership with the University’s Australian Institute for Machine Learning, which will maximise the benefits for South Australia's grain industry", said Dr Bettina Berger, Scientific Director at the APPF's Adelaide node.
"This will enable us to gain valuable insights from the complex data generated by our new, cutting-edge technology, including a custom-built X-ray CT scanner for screening thousands of wheat spikes for heat, drought and frost damage, and a bespoke ground-based vehicle with latest imaging technology, enabling novel, in-depth measurements of field trials", Bettina said.
19 July 2019
Ripe wheat