Leading research and development organisation Boeing Research and Technology Australia (BR&T–Australia) has moved its Brisbane-based team into a new centre at The University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus.
The move is the first time in the Asia-Pacific region that Boeing has co-located research within a university.
The BR&T-Australia Technology Centre at the UQ engineering research hub opened today at an event involving Queensland Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business Leeanne Enoch and Federal Member for Ryan, Jane Prentice.
Boeing Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific President Ms Maureen Dougherty said the move would be of great benefit to both Boeing and UQ.
“The opening of this centre on campus brings together Boeing and UQ researchers who will collaborate on the next great advances in aerospace,” Ms Dougherty said.
“We are excited to see our relationship with The University of Queensland take this significant step forward.”
About 30 Boeing research and technical staff will move to the specially-designed facility that features a high-tech student interaction display area complete with augmented-reality technology, computer labs and collaborative spaces.
Boeing’s research and development team in Melbourne remains co-located at Boeing’s advanced manufacturing facility.
Boeing staff will work with UQ researchers and students in fields including engineering, human movements, neuroscience, chemistry, physics and psychology.
Boeing’s industry workspace will demonstrate the realities of aerospace research and provide UQ staff and students with first-hand experience.
Projects earmarked for investigation include studies in unmanned aircraft and autonomous systems, aircraft simulator technologies, manufacturing technologies, and cabin disease transmission.
UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj said the move of the BR&T–Australia Brisbane Technology Centre to the St Lucia campus was a huge vote of confidence in UQ’s students, staff and graduates.
“Boeing has partnered with UQ for more than 13 years and gained a strong appreciation of the quality of UQ staff, students and graduates,” Professor Høj said.
“Its move to campus dramatically boosts opportunities for our creative researchers and talented students to engage with a global innovator, and to explore opportunities to collaborate and work with industry.
“This colocation is a neat fit with the Australian Government’s National Innovation and Science Agenda and the Queensland Government’s Advance Queensland program, and the innovations and expertise generated here will yield important benefits for society.”
Media: UQ Communications, communications@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 1130; David Sidman, Communications Director, Boeing Australia and New Zealand, david.sidman@boeing.com, + 61 466 528 657.