Innovation and skills

Queensland’s well-established intellectual capability in geoscience and mining has generated capacity to benefit investors, manufacturers, retailers and customers along the supply chain.

Over the past two decades, the Queensland Government has invested more than $3.6 billion in research, development and innovation, and it supports around 40 research institutions.

Queensland boasts academic hubs specialising in mining and critical minerals, including James Cook University in Townsville, the Resources Centre of Excellence in Mackay and the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the University of Queensland.

Research in Queensland

The Queensland Government supports scientific research in Queensland through funding assistance, financial incentives and policies. This support has led to billions of dollars in investment for projects, skills and facilities, and has created a collaborative network of institutes and precincts across the state. The Queensland Government invested approximately $444 million in research and development in 2020–2021.

The state of Queensland ranked second in Australia for mining business expenditure on research and development in 2019–2020. Queensland’s private sector spent approximately $2.23 billion on business expenditure on research and development in 2019–2020.

Prominent academic hubs

James Cook University

James Cook University (JCU) has been serving regional and remote communities to create a brighter future for graduates for over 50 years. JCU is a research-rich university with many partnerships with community organisations and private and government entities.

Recently, JCU has worked in partnership with the Queensland Government to find a new technique to discover copper isotopes.

James Cook University innovations

'Green' minerals technique

An innovative search technique to find buried mineral deposits to power the green energy revolution more accurately and sustainably.

University of Queensland Sustainable Minerals Institute

The University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) is a world-leading multidisciplinary research institute committed to developing the people, technologies and approaches needed to address global sustainability challenges through the responsible supply of mineral resources.

Sustainable Minerals Institute innovations

Next-gen drone testing

Next-gen drone sensing to be tested across the mining value chain

Greener battery alternatives

Queensland copper mine waste could deliver a key ingredient for the renewable energy revolution thanks to a three-year international study.

Solution to 'red mud'

Technology that could rehabilitate mine waste back to useful soil is entering full-scale trials at two Queensland refineries.

Resources Centre of Excellence

The Resources Centre of Excellence (RCOE) was established to connect the brightest minds in research, technology, education and mining equipment, technology and services (METS) to shape the resources sector of the future. The physical hub of RCOE is a central facility, located in Mackay, Queensland, that is supported by multiple satellite extensions with a global scope. These extensions include both actual and virtual spaces that provide a platform for the development of innovative solutions for the resources sector.

A skilled workforce

The Queensland Government is committed to increasing the size, skills and adaptability of the state’s workforce. In 2022, we released the Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032, which will deliver innovative and practical solutions to ensure Queensland has a ready workforce to support growth, strengthen our communities and keep Queensland at the forefront of new economic opportunities.

Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032 (PDF, 1MB)

Protecting our workforce

Queensland’s resources industry employs around 77,000 people. Like in any workforce, workers must always be safe. Worker safety and health must underpin all resource operations in Queensland and the protection of workers must come before profit and productivity considerations.

The Queensland Government will continue to enforce its strong resources safety and health legislation to ensure the safety and health of all workers in the sector.

Case study: establishing Resources Safety and Health Queensland

In 2020, the Queensland Government established Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ), an independent statutory body with a vision for a zero serious harm resource sector in Queensland.

RSHQ is responsible for regulating, educating and assisting the resources industry to meet their obligations to protect and promote the safety and health of all workers.

As a risk-based regulator, it focuses its resources and effort on protecting workers and affected communities from:

fatality
injury requiring hospital admission
occupational disease, such as mine dust lung disease.

Last updated: 21 July 2023
Last reviewed: 21 February 2023