Recent advances in biotechnology (for example, quantum biotechnology) are positioned to fundamentally change our understanding of biology, and our ability to manipulate living organisms and their environments. Managing this in a responsible manner, however, will challenge existing regulatory frameworks.
By seeding research collaborations, this project proposed a pathway forward, with a key question being whether a universal regulatory approach is desirable, or whether each field of application presents unique challenges that must be differentially addressed.
This research presented a unique opportunity between UQ and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D), involved four staff from IIT-D travelling to UQ in 2023 to meet with UQ staff and academics, delivering a public seminar, participating in a roundtable as part of CPF's Policy Engagement Program, and progressing a collaboration that leads to a tangible output such as a grant application or publication. The types of collaborations that the project will seed directly correlated with three key research themes emerging from the UQ-India Engagement Strategy 2018-2-21 via an analysis of regulatory futures for agricultural and biomedical biotechnologies, and climate science.
Outcomes and benefits of the project included:
- Strengthening relationships between UQ and IIT-D, a premier partner institution.
- Building research capacity at UQ in the:
- Three research themes identified in the UQ-India Engagement Strategy, and
- Regulation of science, technology, and innovation in both India and Australia
- Involving multiple faculties at both UQ and IIT-D, including HASS, BEL and Medicine at UQ, and HASS / DMS at IIT-D. UQ staff in other faculties also benefitted from the engagement activities.
- Multiple tangible deliverables, including a series of seminars and roundtables hosted by CPF and UQ Law School in early 2023, as well as progress on one output per thematic topic.
Associate Professor Allison Fish
Senior Research Fellow (Collaboration Leader), The Centre for Policy Futures, UQ
Dr Susannah Chapman
DECRA Senior Research Fellow, School of Social Science, UQ
Mr Kencho Palden
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Social Science, UQ
Dr Kiah Smith
DECRA Research Fellow, School of Social Science, UQ
Associate Professor Adrian Athique
Associate Professor, School of Communication and Arts, UQ
Associate Professor Pradip Thomas
Associate Professor, School of Communication and Arts, UQ
Mr Imon Chakraborty
PhD Candidate, Centre for Health Sevices Research, UQ
Dr Caitlin Curtis
Research Fellow, Centre for Policy Futures; Lecturer, UQ Business School
Dr Omkar Nadh Pattela
Research Fellow, UQ Law School
Dr Andelka Philips
Senior Lecturer, UQ Law School
Dr Sisira Edirippulige
Senior Lecturer, Centre for Health Services Research, UQ
Associate Professor Pedro Fidelman
Principal Research Fellow, Centre for Policy Futures, UQ
Dr Brydon Wang
Lecturer, School of Architecture and School of Law, UQ
Associate Professor Naveen Thayyil
Indian lnstitute of Technology, Delhi
Dr Richa Kumar
Indian lnstitute of Technology, Delhi
Ms Nishtha Bharti
Indian lnstitute of Technology, Delhi
Professor Vigneswara Ilavarasan
Indian lnstitute of Technology, Delhi