The Digital Futures - Collaborative Research Network (CRN) is a $5.1 million partnership between the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), Australian National University (ANU) and the University of South Australia (UniSA) that involves 90 researchers across 5 projects. The CRN aims to build research capacity through a Research Leadership Development Program and by funding postdoctoral fellows and PhD students. It has led to an increase in research active staff, mentorship activities, joint publications and grant applications at USQ. Outputs to date for USQ researchers include an 18% increase in HDR student enrolments, a 71% increase in joint publications, and a 40% increase in research income from 2010-2013

1. Digital Futures -
Collaborative Research
Network (CRN)
Professor Mike Keppell
Director, Digital Futures - CRN
Executive Director
Australian Digital Futures Institute
CRN Program Managers Meeting
24th June

2. Research Capacity Building
$5.1 million
Partnership with ANU & UniSA
90 Researchers
5 projects
Leadership Development Program

3. USQ-CRN Structure
n A total of 90 staff are now involved in the CRN
(including partners) with USQ = 78 (19 of these full-
time) and external = 12.
n Research Leadership Development Program (RLDP)
with 16 cohort members and a working group
n 5 x research projects with 5 x CRN funded
Postdoctoral Fellows and 9 x CRN funded PhD students
n CRN Management Committee & Partner Steering
Group
n Other CRN funded professional and academic staff
include the CRN Project Manager and Research
Development Officer, a Project Officer, two Mid-Career
Researchers and a Postdoctoral Fellow.
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4. Digital Futures - CRN: Outcomes
n An increase in the number of research active
staff
n Increased mentorship activity through
the
Research Leadership Development Program
(RLDP)
n An increase in joint publications
n An increase in joint applications for competitive
grants
n An increase in the number of HDR student
completions
n Collaborative research that is influential in policy
circles.
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5. USQ Outputs to Date
(as reported to government @ May 2014)
n For the 2012 to mid-2014 outputs:
n USQ HDR student enrolments increased by 18%
for full-time and 42% for part-time
n USQ HDR supervision has increased by 16%
specifically in the 2012/13 period
n USQ researchers during the 2010 – 2013 period:
joint publications increased by 71% i.e. an
increase of 171.33 publications (including co-
authoring)
n USQ researchers during the 2010 – 2013 period:
research income increased by 40% i.e. an
increase of $1,804,710.
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8. Outputs to Date
(as reported to government @ May 2014)
n Specifically for the USQ-CRN involved researchers for
the 2012 to mid-2014 period:
n Grant funding: Successful in 10 grants including
the HEPPP funding award of $4.4 million.
Grants Under Review x 13; Grants Unsuccessful x 18
n Journal submissions: Successful x 25; Under
Review x 11
n Book chapters: 9 x in process and due for
publication at the end of 2014
n Refereed conference papers: 35 with two
awarded best paper
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10. Any Questions?