How to get started

Interested in forming a research partnership?

The University of Western Sydney partnership projects solve problems collaboratively. By developing strong links with government, industry and community sectors we have established a wide range of research partnerships within the region, nationally and internationally.

Researchers at UWS are renowned for the expertise and enthusiasm they bring to the research effort and we would invite you to consider a collaboration.

There are three main avenues for becoming a partner in research with UWS:

1. the joint development of a research program or project
2. contract research with potential commercial outcomes to be carried out
3. being involved in research training for the next generation of Australian researchers.

Note: Research is a creative program of systematic investigation and involves potential innovation and risk, whereas consultancy involves the direct purchase of the professional services of UWS staff. Please see the research and consultancy guidelines.

Contact the Office of Research Services.

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Joint Development of a Research Program or Project (Sponsored research)

The prestigious and highly competitive ARC Linkage Program is an example of sponsored, collaborative research funded jointly by the Commonwealth Government and industry/sector partners. The University also contributes its resources to support each project.

The essential characteristic of such research activity is that it is jointly developed from the ground up by the University and sector collaborators. Like all research, it is not possible to predict whether a given objective can be achieved.

UWS supports the development of proposals to the ARC via its Partnership Program under Internal Research Grants. This scheme funds pilot projects or a first stage of research.

UWS invites industry, business, community and cultural organisations to bring ideas forward with a view to finding a research partner within the University.

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Contract Research

Contract research is similarly collaborative and often develops following a request from an external agency for a research project to be undertaken. Contractual arrangements are developed to suit the particular research scenario. Within a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), for example, specific projects developed would then be catered for by Agreements.

Contract research often involves commercial outcomes and therefore the intellectual property arising from the research is negotiated on the basis of the contributions of the parties and the background intellectual property brought to the project by each partner.

The partner may be granted an option to commercially exploit the intellectual property arising from the project.

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Research Training Opportunities

Research students are an integral component of the national innovation system. They challenge ideas and discover new ways of doing and understanding.

The prestigious ARC Linkage Program provides three-year scholarships for doctoral or two-year scholarships for Masters (Honours) students to carry out research funded jointly by the Commonwealth Government and industry/sector partners and supervised by UWS researchers.

Talk to UWS about how for a small investment your business might benefit from developing a collaborative research proposal to be carried out by a research student.

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