At The University of Queensland, we are clear about our vision to provide knowledge leadership for a better world, and we’re lucky that our supporters are on the same page.
Among these generous allies are two industry partners with deep ties to UQ, EM Solutions and Electro Optic Systems (EOS).
The organisations have stepped up to support UQ in advancing the fields of microwave and photonic engineering and electromagnetics, through philanthropic gifts totalling $800,000. $750,000 of these gifts, along with matched funding from the UQ School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, will fund a professorial Chair in Microwave and Photonic Engineering and Applied Electromagnetics. The EOS Chair position will attract the best talent to the University, building a centre of expertise and extending the reaches of the field to make an even greater positive global contribution.
EOS CEO and UQ graduate Dr Ben Greene (Bachelor of Engineering, ’73) said he expected to see the partnership benefit both industry partners, as well as UQ.
“Being proactive in supporting research and development that will evolve the applications of microwave and optics engineering in space and broadband satellite communications will keep Australian industry at the leading edge,” said Dr Greene.
“In turn, high-standard research contributions in frontier millimetrewave satellite electromagnetics and communications will lead to increased international recognition for UQ.”
Both EOS and EM Solutions are Australian companies founded by UQ graduates decades ago. EOS is now an ASX-listed technology company operating in the space, communications, and defence markets, with photonics engineering at its core with its extensive use of optical tracking systems and lasers.
Brisbane-based EM Solutions, recently acquired by EOS as anchor for its new Communication Systems Division, has extensive capability in the area of applied electromagnetics (such as antennas), broadband microwave engineering, and satellite communication terminals and systems.
“With 35 years of industry experience, we want to help foster the development of new generations of radio frequency engineers and microwave engineers,” said Dr Greene.
EM Solutions CEO Dr Rowan Gilmore (Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical), ’76) said being able to contribute $50,000 to fund scholarships for students in the field he has enjoyed so much success in was the company’s way of “paying it forward” to those less fortunate.
“We strongly believed that because we were privileged enough in our time to attend UQ, it is incumbent upon us to share the benefits we have reaped with others,” said Dr Gilmore.
“Being able to leverage the organisation’s support through the UQ Create Change scholarship matching initiative was also attractive, as it instantly doubled the impact.”
“Our first collaborative research project with UQ was seeded by UQ with a small grant to fund a researcher to spend time at EM Solutions,” said Dr Greene.
“That first small initiative has now grown into something much more extensive that will fund and employ an entire research team.
“Philanthropic advancements can be self-sustaining when they rely on a ‘virtuous circle’ whereby one activity seeds the next, and the next grows bigger, and of course the circle grows when all collaborators benefit.”
"Supporting research and development that will evolve the applications of microwave and optics engineering in space and broadband satellite communications will keep Australian industry at the leading edge."
To find out more about the EM Solutions Engineering Scholarship, please visit UQ Scholarships.
