Research concentrations
The University of South Australia is recognised for its research links with industry and the application of knowledge to solve contemporary problems.
At the national level, the Australian Research Council (ARC) recognised Centre for Particle and Material Interfaces and our participation in Cooperative Research Centres show the high regard for research at UniSA.
A key element of the University's Corporate Plan is the development and funding of a limited number of research institutes and centres recognised nationally and internationally for the quality of their research. Research concentrations are both centres of excellence and groupings that permit multidisciplinary research, in addition to providing opportunities for new researchers to find support and encouragement from mentors and peers. UniSA develops research concentrations at three levels: University funded research institutes and centres, and research groups.
The institutes' and centres' strategy is the key instrument for distributing research infrastructure within the University. Funding from the research budget is returned to each institute and centre in proportion to its success in gaining external funds, publishing results of its research and graduating higher degree by research (HDR) students. Institutes and centres are funded from the central research budget and report annually to Research Policy Committee. Research groups are managed within divisions and may receive funding from divisions' research performance funds.
The publication Creating and Applying Knowledge also shows the major research themes of the University's research concentrations.