Research and Innovation Fund | LGNSW
The aim of the LGNSW Research and Innovation Fund is to support new areas of research, policy development and innovation for the advancement of local government in NSW. Its purpose is to fill gaps in the evidence base, explore emerging issues, promote informed discussion and debate, and encourage the development of research capacity within the sector.
LGNSW have allocated seed funding for the first year of operations, and our intention is to leverage this investment by selecting projects of broad sector application and then seeking to attract council, industry and university partners. LGNSW has appointed an Advisory Committee to assess the proposals and provide advice to the LGNSW board regarding the allocation of funds.
In October, councils were invited to put forward proposals for new research, policy development and innovation with broad application for local government across NSW. Forty-five Expressions of Interest were received and a summary and list of all the EOIs received as well as council contacts is available here.
Invitation to Choose, Fund and Collaborate
Councils were asked to respond to our ‘Invitation to Collaborate’ on four of the final shortlisted projects by 5pm on Tuesday 27 November, and of the four shortlisted projects the LGNSW Advisory Committee unanimously selected Nambucca Shire Council’s project to receive the allocation of LGNSW funds.
The Nambucca Shire Council Recycled Materials Trial – Using Plastiphalt in Roadworks project received the highest number of council collaboration votes and also the highest quantum of financial contributions. A potential university partner has been identified – the University of Sydney’s Waste Transformation Hub – and a preliminary project concept is being prepared for an Australian Research Council (ARC) funding application which incorporates the Nambucca Shire Council project as well as offering opportunities for trial sites and participation for other interested councils.
Progressing Other Innovation Projects
LGNSW has an ongoing commitment to supporting and promoting research and innovation in the NSW local government sector and will endeavour to provide some support to all projects in order to progress good ideas and innovation. We will be in touch with all councils who lodged a submission to discuss potential funding sources and will also liaise with all potential partner universities to provide them with a list of potential projects and to identify potential research partners.
We will also be hosting a Research and Innovation Showcase on Thursday 4 April 2019, and this will provide an opportunity to highlight successful examples of council and university collaboration which have interest to the broader local government sector.
Building Council + University Collaboration
LGNSW encourages councils to work with a university partner that offers the best access to relevant expertise. If you are looking to discuss your research idea and haven’t yet identified a university partner, then this list of university contacts may assist.
| Macquarie University |
Dr Lucy Taksa Professor of Management, Associate Dean (Research) Faculty of Business and Economics |
02 9850 4811 | |
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University of New England further information |
Lewis Kahn Professor and Associate Dean – Research Faculty of Science School of Environmental and Rural Science |
0427 711 273 | |
| University of NSW |
Dr Mark Hebblewhite Senior Policy and Government Relations Officer Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise) |
0435 579 070 | |
| University of Sydney |
Katie Richmond External Engagement Manager, Commercial Development and Industry Partnerships, Research Portfolio |
0430 722 819 | |
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University of Technology Sydney further information |
Sophi Bruce Senior Program Specialist Leadership UTS Centre for Local Government |
0410 204 408 | |
| University of Wollongong |
Dr Robert Gorkin Associate Professor – Australian Institute of Innovative Materials |
0401 071 021 | |
| Western Sydney University |
Dr Michaela Tymichova Business Development Officer Research Engagement, Development and Innovation (REDI), Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation |
0405 504 313 | |