Queensland ideas receive global boost through Bavarian research partnership
Issued: 16 October 2026
Queensland and Bavarian researchers are joining forces on breakthrough research spanning multiple sclerosis rehabilitation and 3D-printed bone repair, with the potential to turn local scientific discoveries into solutions that improve lives worldwide.
More than $600,000 will support 12 Queensland-led projects addressing patient care, energy reliability, food production and community resilience through Round 3 of the Queensland–Bavaria Collaborative Research Program, as part of Brisbane-German Week.
Delivered in partnership with the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts (StMWK), the program comprises seven Seed Grants and five Development Grants. The projects connect researchers across health and medical research, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, climate-resilient buildings and agriculture.
The partnership demonstrates why strong connections between researchers, universities, industry and international partners are a key focus of Queensland’s Science and Innovation Strategy, Ideas into impact: From discovery to delivery.
Griffith University Physiotherapy Lecturer Dr Benjamin Goodlich will work with Bavarian researchers to improve mobility for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) through more personalised rehabilitation.
“Walking difficulty is a top research priority for people living with multiple sclerosis. By combining Griffith’s MS expertise with FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg’s cutting-edge technology, we aim to better understand how the nervous system adapts to MS,” Dr Goodlich said.
Queensland University of Technology’s Dr Mohammad Mirkhalaf will work with Bavarian researchers to develop 3D-printed implants that mimic natural bone and could improve healing after severe injury or major surgery.
“Nature shows us pathways to tackle unmet challenges in science and engineering,” Dr Mirkhalaf said.
“Drawing inspiration from highly mineralised natural materials such as seashells and bone, this project aims to develop more effective ways to repair and regenerate damaged bone for patients with complex conditions. Treatment of these conditions remains a significant unmet challenge in Queensland, Bavaria, and around the world.”
Queensland Chief Scientist Professor Kerrie Wilson said international collaboration connects researchers with complementary expertise, facilities and networks, accelerating discovery and turning research into practical outcomes.
“Bavaria is internationally recognised for research excellence. Combining its expertise with Queensland’s strengths helps us tackle shared challenges and increase the impact of our science,” Professor Wilson said.
“These partnerships give researchers the opportunity to test ideas, build capability and advance promising work. Three recipients have progressed from Seed Grants to Development Grants, showing how sustained collaboration can build momentum and bring research closer to delivering benefits for communities and industry.”
The 12 Queensland-led projects funded through Round 3 are listed below.
Organisation | Project title | Funding |
Griffith University | Tailoring microstructure and build rate in high productivity metal additive manufacturing | $8,000 |
Griffith University | Decoding Motor Adaptation in Multiple Sclerosis: Toward Objective Biomarkers for Rehabilitation | $8,000 |
The University of Queensland | EVA-DHI: Economic Evaluation Framework for Digital Health Interventions: Stakeholder-Informed Development and Pilot-Testing | $8,000 |
University of Southern Queensland | Federated Explainable AI for Chronic Disease | $8,000 |
Queensland University of Technology | When Is Privacy-Preserving Machine Learning Feasible in Healthcare? A Comparative Study | $8,000 |
University of Southern Queensland | AI-Optimised Climate-Adaptive Buildings: Lower Emissions and Energy Resilience in Queensland and Bavaria | $8,000 |
University of Southern Queensland | AI-Based Effect of Defect Prediction for Filament Winding | $8,000 |
The University of Queensland | Engineered 3D Spider Silk Hydrogels for Cost-Effective Ex Vivo Red Blood Cell Manufacturing | $109,969.80 |
Queensland University of Technology | Additive Engineering and Validation of Supreme Architectured Bioceramic Constructs for Bone Reconstruction Markets | $110,000 |
The University of Queensland | Precision-engineered dialysis access through advanced manufacturing and computational modelling | $107,996 |
University of Southern Queensland | DREAMS-DT: Digital Twins and AI Nowcasting for the Renewable Energy Transition | $110,000 |
The University of Queensland | StressLens: AI-Enabled Crop Multi-Stress Early Warning and Yield Prediction Across Bavaria and Queensland | $109,921 |