This event is postponed
We regret to inform you that due to the unfolding circumstances relative to COVID-19, the UQ-Ghent Joint Research Workshop has been postponed until further notice. Momentum to grow the partnership remains strong and we have been overwhelmed by the interest in supporting the UQ-Ghent Joint Research Workshop from both university staff, students and industry. We will endeavour to deliver the Workshop at a future date. In the meantime, we will provide our continued support to enhance your collaborations.
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The UQ-Ghent Research Workshop will focus on building partnerships to solve the world’s most challenging problems.
This two-day workshop will facilitate robust discussions between researchers and industry experts who are engaged in cross-border collaborations, educational exchanges for master's programs, PhD research, and teaching and industry partnerships. To explore some of the world's most challenging problems, we will focus on four key areas:
1. Freshwater and marine systems
The changing climate puts marine ecosystems under increased pressure, with the effects seen internationally from the North Sea to the Great Barrier Reef. Water and marine eco-systems are pillars of excellence in both institutions, with ongoing collaborations between Ghent University’s Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology and UQ's Centre for Microbial Ecology and Technology, part of the Australian Centre for Ecogenomics and Advanced Water Management Centre.
2. Improving antimicrobial therapy for severe infection
Actions to improve outcomes of severe infections and combat antimicrobial resistance are a global health priority. The escalating number of deaths caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria demands urgent action, and the research community must to come together to improve treatments and minimise the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Both institutions are world leaders in health and medicine, with clinical collaboration existing between Ghent University (Hospital) and UQ’s Centre for Clinical Research and the Centre of Research Excellence in Redefining Antimicrobial Use to Reduce Resistance.
3. Knowledge exchange and entrepreneurship
The Centre for Entrepreneurship Research at Ghent University focuses on finance, opportunities, the psychological and human capital aspects of entrepreneurship and technology transfer, and works in close collaboration with the Dare-to-Venture group. At UQ, the TC Beirne School of Law, the School of Social Science and the Centre for Policy Futures host a variety of scholars experienced in setting up close partnerships and projects with government and the private sector.
4. Materials, metals and fire safety
Safe, strong materials are fundamental to many domains of society across construction, transport and industry. Corrosion affects the durability of metals and structures and has important economic consequences, such as the continuous inspection for and replacement of damaged material. UQ is a world leader in the integrated experimental/modelling approach for advanced thermodynamic database development, used by researchers at Ghent University to investigate processes such as slag foaming, metal droplet entrainment, and vapour explosions.
The current partnership and MoU between UQ-Ghent is highly valued, supporting significant collaboration between our universities. In 2018, Ghent University presented a Strategic Institutional Partnership (SIP) proposal to UQ for consideration. Following the delivery of the 2020 workshop, a formal recommendation to support a strategic institutional partnership will be considered and presented to the respective senior executive representatives at both UQ and Ghent.
