A $230,000 partnership between the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute’s (AMSI) APR.Intern program and the Defence Science Centre (DSC) Western Australia will accelerate STEM PhDs into defence innovation.
Announced at today’s DSC launch by the WA Defence Issues Minister, Paul Papalia, the agreement – the first for the Centre – will see 10 PhD students placed into short-term, focussed SME-led defence innovation projects.
With a focus on engaging small business in Western Australian defence innovation, eligible industry partners will receive $10,000 DSC subsidy. These internships are supported by the Australian Government including a 50 per cent rebate towards industry internship costs through its Supporting more women in STEM careers: Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI)—National Research Internship Program (NRIP).
AMSI Director, Professor Tim Brown welcomed the opportunity to partner with DSC to provide WA STEM PhD students with the opportunity to develop industry skills while helping drive real-world defence innovation.
“We are excited to open this powerful platform for Western Australian universities to complement specialist PhD training with defence industry experience while delivering real-world innovation solutions,” said Professor Brown.
APR.Intern Director and Melbourne Enterprise Professor, Gary Hogan AM said the placements were a welcome boost for Western Australia’s small business sector and a positive step towards realising the objectives of NRIP.
“Contributing to the delivery of NRIP, the placements under the APR.Intern program will allow SMEs to cost-effectively tap into specialist research talent with unique skillsets to advance Western Australian defence innovation,” he said.
Minister Papalia said the partnership would contribute to the McGowan Government’s support for small business led defence innovation and ongoing efforts to secure the state’s STEM future.
“This partnership will foster essential research-industry collaboration, accelerating WA defence innovation and building STEM capability position the state as a global innovation leader,” said Minister Papalia.
About the Defence Science Centre Western Australia
The Defence Science Centre (DSC) will actively facilitate science and innovation connections across universities, industry and Defence to support research and technology development and build state capability requirements. The DSC will support the commercialisation of defence-related research, support students undertaking defence relevant projects and cultivate a competitive local industry
About APR.Intern
APR.Intern program is Australia’s only national all sector—all discipline internship program placing PhD students into short-term industry and university research collaborations. Driving innovation and accelerating PhDs in industry, the program is open to all STEM PhD students with emphasis on gender equity and regional disadvantage. For further Information visit, https://aprintern.org.au
More information
DSC Partnership: aprintern.org.au/partnerships-dsc/
Australian Government 50% Rebate: aprintern.org.au/govrebate/
These internships are supported by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training, through the ‘Supporting more women in STEM careers: Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) – National Research Internship Program.
For Interview:
Professor Tim Brown, AMSI Director
Gary Hogan, APR.Intern Director and Melbourne Enterprise Professor
Defence Issues Minister Paul Papalia
Media Contact:
Jo Piltz
E: media@amsi.org.au
P: 03 9035 8237
