RMIT University

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Adapting to climate change in the Australian music festival ecosystem . This project aims to boost the resilience of the Australian music festival ecosystem by increasing understanding of climate change risks and how to reduce them. The project will generate new knowledge on the structure and stakeholders of the music festival ecosystem, and where vulnerabilities to climate change exist or are likely to emerge. Expected outcomes of this project include co-designed tools that reduce threats and increase adaptive capacity of festivals, and that can be translated to other performance and events sectors. This should provide significant benefits such as protecting the high cultural, economic and social value music festivals create, including their contribution to social bonds needed for collective adaptation. Field of research: 4702 - Cultural Studies Climate change is already affecting Australia’s 500+ annual music festivals, with rising disruptions and cancellations putting significant strain on the industry and disrupting the social, cultural and economic benefits festivals create. To date, however, there has been little research on what is needed for festivals, their wider industry and the broader music, cultural and events sectors to adapt well. This project brings together leading academics, national and state governments and peak bodies to address this question. Building on extensive pilot work, this research will co-design bespoke products (including adaptation strategy, updated industry guidelines) and events (industry workshops, policy briefings) to educate and enable the sector. The benefits of this will include more effective festival organising maximised for climate resilience, ensuring the protection of the economic benefits of festivals, especially to regional and rural areas, and the preservation of the community-building and social cohesion benefits that result from successful festival delivery, thus increasing Australia’s overall climate resilience. Finding will be communicated directly to festival organisers and industry through Partner Organisations and industry conferences, including through inclusion in existing trusted industry information sources, and to policy makers through workshops and advocacy by Partner Organisations connected to government.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Reduce hallucination in large language models via knowledge-based reasoning. This project aims to address the critical challenge of hallucination -- a phenomenon where generative AI models produce information that appears plausible but is factually incorrect -- with a focus on news fact-checking. This project expects to advance knowledge in detecting and mitigating hallucinations by developing innovative techniques for integrating external factual knowledge into AI models. Expected outcomes of this project include a suite of innovative techniques to enhance AI models' capability to reason and generate grounded information for complex fact checking tasks. This should provide significant benefits, such as improved reliability for generative AI systems and more effective combat against misinformation at scale. Field of research: 4605 - Data Management and Data Science Generative AI is a rapidly developing technology that demonstrates remarkable capabilities in producing human-like language and solving complex problems in mathematics and other sciences. Australia has quickly embraced AI technologies, ranking fourth globally in the adoption of generative AI. However, a critical challenge remains: despite their fluent language, generative AI systems can produce false or ungrounded information. At the same time, the issue of factuality and misinformation is well recognized beyond generative AI. The spread of online misinformation poses significant cybersecurity risks in Australia. This project will develop advanced technologies to enhance generative AI systems with the ability to reason logically and minimize generation of false information. Additionally, it will also create innovative solutions for automated fact checking AI-generated content. This project will enhance the reliability and factual accuracy of AI systems for fact-sensitive applications, addressing a critical need across Australia. The innovative solutions developed in this project will deliver wide-ranging benefits to Australians, particularly by enhancing the efficiency of fact checking services and strengthening the fight against misinformation at scale. To maximize impact, project outcomes will be actively communicated to industry stakeholders and the broader community through seminars, professional publications, and a dedicated project website.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Can quantum computers solve sensing problems? Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Can quantum computers solve sensing problems? This project aims to tackle the critical challenge of integrating quantum sensors with quantum computers, unlocking their combined potential for transformative applications. It expects to integrate quantum sensors into quantum computers, enabling practical, large-scale, high-sensitivity precision measurement and computational advancements. Expected outcomes include capacity building, forging collaboration between the sensing and computing communities and advancing applications in magnetometry, gravimetry, astronomy, and medical imaging. This work will significantly enhance scientific and industrial capabilities while strengthening Australia’s leadership in next-generation quantum technologies. Field of research: 5108 - Quantum Physics The global investment in quantum technologies is around $55B. Australia has been at the forefront of quantum computing for more than 20 years now. Quantum sensors are the future and have transformative potential in defence, communications, healthcare, and resource exploration. Real-world implementation remains hindered by noise, decoherence, and computational complexity in optimising sensor states. This project will address this knowledge gap by applying quantum computing techniques to quantum sensing, ensuring Australia remains at the forefront of quantum technology. By supporting Australia’s national quantum investment, this project will strengthen national security, technological sovereignty, and economic resilience, ensuring long-term strategic benefits for Australian industries and society. This project will develop new, foundational knowledge that will be disseminated to the academic community through journal publications. In time this knowledge will translate to the commercial world in the way that quantum computing has moved from academia to global companies such as Google. The team will continue to strengthen ties with industry partners, government agencies, and experimental collaborators to shape the development of next-generation quantum technologies. Findings will be translated and promoted through joint workshops, open-source tools, policy engagement, and public outreach, maximising impact beyond academia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Shadow Money: A Comparative Analysis. This project aims to understand how new forms of "shadow money” – or digital tokens created by non-bank financial actors – are reshaping systems of exchange. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of digital economies. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach, using digital ethnography and legal analysis, the research project examines the design, implementation, and impact of tokenisation strategies. Expected outcomes include insights into the efficiencies and inefficiencies of tokenised systems, contributions to legal and regulatory frameworks, and guidance for industries navigating digital economies. This should provide significant benefits for Australia’s next generation financial and compliance infrastructure. Field of research: 4410 - Sociology The proposed project aims to supply critical knowledge to advance our understanding of how digital tokens are transforming systems of payment and exchange. In March 2025 the Australian Government issued a statement underscoring the opportunities afforded by digital assets for new products and productivity gains. These include streamlining payment systems and transforming how we invest and do business. However, there is a critical need to identify future opportunities as well as impending risks and liabilities to ensure that innovation occurs in a context of increased certainty. This project responds to this need by conducting in situ case studies of digital token implementation. The research will identify the design, usages, benefits and challenges of digital tokens for the payments and exchange sectors. It will generate a knowledge base for relevant stakeholders and thus enhance informed decision-making for industry actors, consumers, and regulatory agencies. The research outcomes will be disseminated through academic publications and policy reports, which will be shared with regulatory bodies, such as the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, and industry associations, such as the Global Business Blockchain Council. The findings will also be made available to future government review committees and in relevant industry events, such as the Australian Blockchain Policy Forum.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Young Creators Lab: Gaming the Curriculum. This project aims to investigate the pedagogical value of digital game creation by expanding a museum-based Young Creators Program connecting youth (10–16), industry professionals, and schools. The project expects to generate new knowledge in curriculum design and game-based learning through an innovative, interdisciplinary approach. Expected outcomes of this project include enhanced cross-sector collaboration, improved methodologies for student-led learning and cultural production, and stronger student wellbeing. This should provide significant benefits such as increased critical and creative thinking, improved access to cultural learning for remote students, and greater educational impact for national cultural institutions. Field of research: 3901 - Curriculum and Pedagogy This project aims to explore the educational value of digital game creation through a museum-based Young Creators Program that brings together young people (10–16), educators, industry professionals, and schools. By positioning students as active creators of cultural content, the program supports engagement in STEM, the arts, and digital literacies—key priorities for Australia’s future workforce. It will generate new knowledge in curriculum innovation and game-based learning, offering evidence-based insights into how creative, student-led approaches can improve learning outcomes, inclusion, and wellbeing. It will also demonstrate how national cultural institutions can play a greater role in education by connecting schools and communities through accessible, future-focused programming. Benefits to the nation include: enhanced critical and creative thinking skills among young Australians; increased access to quality digital and cultural learning experiences, particularly for students in regional and remote areas; and stronger partnerships between education, industry, and cultural sectors. By equipping students with skills in collaboration, design, and digital technologies, this project supports Australia’s innovation agenda and contributes to a more equitable and creative education system. Featured outcomes beyond academia to ensure adoption include roundtables with cultural institutions and policymakers, an international summit, and creative engagement workshops.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Secure Deep Learning Inference with Privacy Protection Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Privacy-Aware Intelligent Digital Twin for Secure Critical... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Privacy-Aware Intelligent Digital Twin for Secure Critical... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

AI-assisted design of halide perovskite optoelectronics and... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

AI-assisted design of halide perovskite optoelectronics and... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Designing subnanofluidic devices for precise divalent metal ion... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Assessing the impact of gender inequalities across Australia Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Assessing the impact of gender inequalities across Australia Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Designing subnanofluidic devices for precise divalent metal ion... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Next-Gen Miniaturized Implants Using All-Optical Power and Data... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Next-Gen Miniaturized Implants Using All-Optical Power and Data... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Federated Fine-Tuning Framework for Secure and Collaborative GenAI... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Federated Fine-Tuning Framework for Secure and Collaborative GenAI... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Next-Generation Grease Interceptors for Minimisation of Sewer Blockages Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Next-Generation Grease Interceptors for Minimisation of Sewer Blockages Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-11

2025 Equipment Grants Category: Health and Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-09

Understanding Children's Mobile Gamble-Play Cultures: Gateways to... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-09

Understanding Children's Mobile Gamble-Play Cultures: Gateways to... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-08

Synchrotron Nanocrystallography Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research