Translational AI with Industry
Competitive funding and industry-engaged projects that move AI research into practical systems for construction safety, advanced materials, and renewable energy.
Industry-linked research
AI translation
HDR leadership
Commercialisation
IG250200014 · AEA Ignite Round 2Lead Chief Investigator
SafeBuild AI: Intelligent Safety and Efficiency for Construction SMEs (2026–2027)
$549,886 AEA $474,886 + industry $75,000
Developing an AI-powered safety assurance platform that automates SWMS compliance auditing and generates dynamic safety checklists. The project advances a construction-specific LLM and Proactive Safety Assurance Module from TRL 3 to TRL 5.
High-Impact Recognition
Selected as the featured project for Queensland in the Australian Government’s official announcement, which highlighted one representative initiative per state. The release specifically recognised this project’s capacity “to improve construction safety using AI compliance detection.”
IG240100414 · AEA Ignite Round 1Chief Investigator · Lead: Dr. Yanming Zhu
Intelligent FCAS Agent for Renewable Energy Power Systems (2025–2026)
$508,442 AEA $429,720 + industry $78,722
Analysing grid data and predicting frequency fluctuations to optimise power dispatch and battery storage in solar systems, with the goal of improving national-grid stability and supporting a TRL 5 commercialisation pathway.
Australian Government · Round 7 · Industry Linked PhD
Two awards with YJ Building Evolution Pty Ltd (2026-2030)
Up to $576,216
Each four-year award combines an RTP Scholarship and tuition fee waiver, an industry cash contribution, and Australian Government support, embedding industry-funded PhD researchers in a shared program spanning safer construction, responsible AI, and advanced fire-retardant materials.
Funding compositionPer award, per year
RTP ScholarshipA$39,000plus tuition fee waiver
Industry cashA$14,000industry contribution
Government supportA$19,027Australian Government
Across both four-year awards: combined value up to A$576,216, plus tuition fee waivers; external cash and project support totals up to A$264,216.
Application 42003Lead Supervisor
Construction Safety Compliance and Risk Mitigation Using Large Language Models
Develops an AI system to analyse complex construction safety plans, identify potential risks, and reduce manual review burden and human error. Expected outcomes include a validated prototype and stronger evidence for AI-enabled construction safety assurance.
LLMs
Construction safety
Risk mitigation
Application 42049Co-Supervisor · Lead: Prof. Pingan Song
AI-Enabled Discovery of High-Performance Fire-Retardant Materials
Develops an AI-assisted materials discovery framework for high-performance fire-retardant coatings, supporting safer buildings and innovation in Australia’s construction sector.
Materials AI
Fire safety
Discovery
2025 · Pilot Research Support SchemeUniSQ ECR Funding · $10,000
2024 · Fake News Detection ResearchUniSQ Collaboration Grant · $4,000