Home » Research and Commercialisation

The University of Queensland (UQ) is one of the three leading research-intensive universities in Australia. In 2002 UQ reported 1200 full time academic staff and 590 research only staff. In the same year, UQ enrolled the largest number of PhD students of any Australian University. The University awarded 379 PhDs in 2002 and 456 PhDs in 2003. Research expenditure in 2002 was $268 million – 8% of the national total and direct research income was more than $136 million.

UQ is one of the biggest participants in the Australian Government’s Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) programme, which is a strategic program focused on promoting close industry-university interaction for the transfer of knowledge. UQ is a core or supporting partner in 29 of the 70 CRCs; research income from CRCs was almost $13 million in 2002. The University also has one of the highest Australian incomes from direct industrial grants ($53 million in 2002); this is a result of a strategic realignment of its industrial contracts office and its establishment, with the University of Melbourne, of a $20 million pre-seed fund to promote the commercialisation of Intellectual Property (IP). The University retains a flexible approach to IP and industrial relationship management, with each research contract being negotiated on a case-by-case basis with a view to generating win-win outcomes, while protecting the University’s core missions of education and research.

UQ is Australia’s leading University in terms of commercialisation of research generated IP. For example, 134 patent applications were filed in 2001 and 70 in 2002. Eighteen worldwide patents were issued in 2001 and 31 issued in 2002. The University generated 13 start-up companies in 2001 and a further 9 in 2002. At the end of 2002, there were 34 companies operating in which UQ has an equity position.

UQ is Australia’s leading University in terms of commercialisation of research generated IP. For example, 134 patent applications were filed in 2001 and 70 in 2002. Eighteen worldwide patents were issued in 2001 and 31 issued in 2002. The University generated 13 start-up companies in 2001 and a further 9 in 2002. At the end of 2002, there were 34 companies operating in which UQ has an equity position.