Date Posted
1 October, 2020
Posted by
Helen Cook
The milling sector of the Australian sugarcane industry is now invited to submit applications to the Small Milling Research Program (SMRP) investment scheme.
The SMRP is a targeted initiative developed by SRA to work with sugarcane millers and researchers to deliver productivity, profitability, and sustainability outcomes.
This will be the fourth year of the investment scheme, and SRA is now calling for applications that will allow investment in small projects to develop a product, service, or process that will solve targeted problems in sugar mills and deliver tangible outputs with almost immediate outcomes.
Applications are open from 01 October 2020 until 31 January 2021, with applicants able to apply for up to $75,000 for their project. All successful projects are expected to be completed within 12 months of their starting date.
SRA Research Funding Unit General manager, Dr Harjeet Khanna said the scheme aligned with the needs of SRA’s milling investors. She said that during the industry consultation phase of the Milling R&D program, it was noted that SMRP scheme was strongly supported by the industry as it provided the vehicle for responding to “here and now” problems via applied or tactical research.
“The scheme is an opportunity to invest in lower-cost, short-term, industry-identified, and preferably industry-led research. Each project must have an Australian milling stakeholder as one of the project participants, which ensures that the project is linked to practical Outcomes,” she said.
The investment is included in our current total investment in our Key Focus Area (KFA) of Milling Efficiency and Technology.
Dr Khanna said the SMRP scheme would strengthen collaborations between industry and research as well as increase research skills and capability in sugar mills.
“We encourage researchers to collaborate with industry to put forward their best ideas for new projects.”
For more information, visit the SRA website at https://sugarresearch.com.au/research-investment/small-milling-research-project-initiative/.