Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) has announced a 30th Birthday bursary initiative, in partnership with Life Sciences Queensland (LSQ), to support Queensland and Australia’s research and commercial uptake across health, biomedical and agritech bio-innovation.
LSQ is the Queensland peak body for medical and agricultural science and investment attraction. Intended to run over three years, the bursary initiative is a legacy initiative of the Centre’s Convention Advocates Partnership. It will provide AUD$25,000 to mid-career researchers looking to strengthen industry collaboration and research impact in the life sciences.
Managed by Legends Global, BCEC collaborates with Queensland universities and Institutes, Brisbane Economic Development Agency, Tourism Events Queensland and Tourism Australia to secure events.
Since its inception in 2010, innovation leaders have secured 163 national and international conferences and help generate AUD$358m in economic impact.
Queensland’s life sciences industry contributes AUD$2.11bn in gross value-added, employs 12,400 people, and generates an estimated AUD$534.3m in export value.
Kym Guesdon, general manager of BCEC, said the new bursary reflected the Centre’s long-standing collaboration with Queensland’s research community, “For three decades, BCEC has partnered with science leaders to showcase Queensland’s innovation to the world. This 30th birthday initiative honours that legacy by investing in future talent and strengthening the connections between research and industry that drive global impact.”
The bursary concept was developed in consultation with multiple BCEC Convention Advocates, including Professor Trent Munro, chair of LSQ and a leading voice in Queensland’s bio innovation sector. He said: “BCEC fundamentally understands how research innovation is transferred, and it’s between people, and usually at specific technical conferences.”
Application details and programme guidelines will be released in the coming months at LSQ.com.au
