Defence, aviation and space
Queensland is a defence, aviation and space research and industry hub of the Asia-Pacific region, with a reputation for excellence in:
- advanced maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities and support services
- world-class education, training and simulation activities
- leading-edge logistics
- unmanned airborne vehicle R&D facilities
The sector provides more than 4,500 direct jobs in aircraft manufacturing and repair services across over 300 enterprises (more on aerospace in Queensland).
Queensland Science making a difference
Watch our Queensland Science making a difference video to find out why top researchers and industry leaders are saying Queensland is one of the best places in the world for defence, aviation and space research.
Video transcript
Professor Ian Frazer AC
The University of Queensland
Translational Research Chair, TRI Foundation Board
Queensland has great strength across all the fields of science. But we’re particularly strong in applying that in the real world. So the Ecosciences, the agricultural sciences, health sciences are areas where we have clear strength.
[Caption: Queensland Science making a difference]
Professor Dean Jerry
Aquaculture and Fisheries – Head of Academic Group
College of Marine & Environmental Sciences James Cook University
The human population is rapidly expanding and one of the grand challenges we have is how to feed the population.
[Caption: Solving the world’s problems ]
Professor Robert Henry
Director, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation
We are helping people to produce more food that is healthier, and our unique combination of science and technology, and a tropical and subtropical environment means that Queensland is the natural leader in this area of science globally.
Professor Saga Mundree
Director, Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, QUT
We are making crops more resilient, by making them more drought and disease tolerant. And globally we are addressing issues around nutritional security which is how can we best enhance the nutrient in crops that are exported to regions where such deficiencies and health issues exist.
[Caption: Feeding the world]
Professor Dean Jerry
Aquaculture is the fastest growing animal production industry in the world, and has a very important role in filling this requirement for animal protein into the future in more sustainable ways.
Professor Britta Shaffelke
Research Program Leader - Sustainable Coastal Ecosystems and Industries in Tropical Australia
A Healthy and Resilient Great Barrier Reef
Australian Institute of Marine Science
Here in the National Sea Simulator we disentangle the different local pressures and global pressures. Like land run-off and the effects on the Great Barrier Reef.
[Caption: Protecting the reef]
We are collaborating quite widely, industries scientists and government, because it’s an issue that affects everybody.
[Caption: Cleaning our air]
Professor Lidia Morawska
Director, International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, QUT
Co-Director – Australia, Australia-China Centre for Air Quality Science and Management
Air quality is one of the top risks which humans face.
Queensland provides a very good collaborative environment for working together with international organisations, delivering research outcomes and then for utilisation by our partners.
[Caption: Healing the world]
Professor Ian Frazer AC
The Translational Research Institute is a unique facility globally because here we can do the basic science; we have the animal models to translate it; we have the manufacturing capacity to make products that are ready to go into patients, clinical trials facility and then straight into the hospital. All in one site.
Professor Ron Quinn AM
Foundation Director, Eskitis Institute Griffith University
If you want to treat a disease you have to have someone take a tablet. That contains a compound.
[Caption: Healing from nature]
We make a difference by discovering those compounds from the wonderful biodiversity of Queensland.
Professor Ian Wronski AO
Deputy Vice Chancellor, Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville
Queensland is exciting. Not only are you at the doorstep of tropical diseases in all its form but you are also in a developed country with a tremendous health system and institutions and government who are really focused on the development of tropical health know-how that I think is gaining attraction worldwide.
[Caption: Eliminating disease]
Dr Steven Donohue
Director, Tropical Public Health Unit, Queensland Health
Eliminate Dengue is making a huge difference because Dengue Fever was such a burden. Many people sick.
And now because of Eliminate Dengue program we’ve gone from lots of outbreaks every wet season to virtually nothing.
Dr Andrew Turley
Field Trial Manager (Australia), Eliminate Dengue
The success has meant that we can transfer this research overseas into international communities where we can have an even bigger impact on the transmission of dengue.
[Caption: Making mining safer ]
Lachlan Campbell
Vice President, Marketing and Technology, GroundProbe
We’re lucky that Queensland and Brisbane in particular is really a hub for mining technology and science. People around the world look to us for the new solutions that are going to drive innovation and change throughout our industry.
Professor Srinivasan Mandyam
Professor of Visual Neuroscience and Robotics, Queensland Brain Institute
School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, The University of Queensland (UQ)
Small creatures flying insects [fly] can navigate with a very small brain and limited resources so the challenge is – how can we do what a bee does in a plane?
Dr Michael Wilson
Senior Researcher, Boeing Research and Technology – Australia
Boeing has been partnering with Professor Srinivasan’s laboratory on a research project aimed at taking what we can learn from birds and bees and make robots smarter… and that’s world class research.
[Caption: Partnering for success]
Professor Srinivasan Mandyam
Partnering with an industry like Boeing it gives us a feeling of our research being relevant to society. And that’s a very big thrill.
Professor Max Lu
Past-Provost and Senior Vice-President, The University of Queensland
President and Vice-Chancellor Surrey University, UK
I’m proud of the fact that I have been contributing significantly to leading a world top 50 university in this wonderful state that in turn puts Queensland science and technology on the world map.
Professor Ian Frazer AO
Queensland science makes a difference not only in Queensland but also globally. We focus on science that is not only important for ourselves but for our region and the planet.
Vanessa Lussini, QUT
Queensland science…
Professor Ron Quinn
…making a difference
Professor Robert Henry
Queensland science…
Professor Sagadevan Mundree
…making a significant difference
Nigel Meadows, Insitu Pacific
Queensland science is…
Professor Lidia Morawska
…making a difference.
[Caption: Queensland Science making a difference]
[Caption: Come join us]
[Logo: ADVANCE Queensland Jobs now, jobs for the future]
[Caption: Queensland Science Making a difference]
[Logo: Queensland Government]
Leading defence, aviation and space research
Queensland has nine universities including three of Australia’s largest. Details of 200 plus research centres in Queensland are available by searching the Queensland science capability directory.
Defence, aviation and space research
Queensland has over 25 institutes, facilities, precincts, laboratories involved with defence, aviation and space research including:
- Australian Centre for Robotic Vision (ACRV)
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN)
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine - Cairns (AITHM)
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine - Townsville (AITHM)
- Centre for Astrophysics (CA)
- Centre for Future Materials (CFM)
- Centre for High Performance Polymers (CHPP)
- Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems (CHFSS)
- Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis (CMM)
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research - Cairns (TropWATER)
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research - Townsville (TropWATER)
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
- Griffith University - Gold Coast (GU)
- Griffith University - Nathan (GU)
- Institute for Future Environments (IFE)
- Institute for Integrated and Intelligent Systems (IIIS)
- Queensland Brain Institute (QBI)
- Queensland Centre for Advanced Materials Processing and Manufacturing (AMPAM)
- Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies (QCAT)
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre (QMNC)
- Queensland University of Technology - Gardens Point (QUT)
- Queensland University of Technology - Kelvin Grove (QUT)
- Research Computing Centre (RCC)
- The University of Queensland - Gatton (UQ)
- The University of Queensland - Herston (UQ)
- The University of Queensland - St Lucia (UQ)
- University of Southern Queensland - Ipswich (USQ)
- University of Southern Queensland - Springfield (USQ)
- University of Southern Queensland - Toowoomba (USQ)
- Visualisation and eResearch (ViseR)