Research Infrastructure Queensland Alliance (RIQA)
Queensland is renowned for its strong collaborative culture, supported by diverse cutting-edge research infrastructure facilities. Accessible, state-of-the art scientific infrastructure and specialist expertise is a vital component of modern innovation ecosystems. The 'Team Queensland' approach across our universities, research institutes and the Queensland Government, supports multidisciplinary collaboration and strong industry partnerships to deliver leading research outcomes and accelerate the development and commercialisation of ideas.
Research Infrastructure Queensland Alliance (RIQA) is a coalition of all the major Queensland universities. The University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, University of the Sunshine Coast, Griffith University, University of Southern Queensland, Central Queensland University, James Cook University, Southern Cross University, as well as the Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation, Translational Research Institute, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, CSIRO, Australian Institute of Marine Science and the Queensland Government's Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
RIQA do this by:
- co-ordinating major research infrastructure bids
- identifying future infrastructure opportunities
- providing a complete statewide list of available infrastructure, and
- maximising the effective use of all Queensland's research infrastructure
RIQA Awards – Celebrating Excellence in Enabling Queensland’s Research Future
The RIQA Awards honour the the research infrastructure specialists whose expertise, innovation, and dedication power the state’s research ecosystem. These awards recognise the often‑unseen contributions of core facility staff who enable discovery, strengthen capability, and support researchers across Queensland and globally, and who exemplify leadership, creativity, collaboration, and excellence in delivering world‑class research infrastructure as individuals or as a part of a team.
Nominations are welcomed from both individuals wishing to self-nominate, and those seeking to recognise the achievements of others.
The winners of the 2026 RIQA Awards will be announced and presented at CORES 2026 - further details imminent.
There are four (4) categories of RIQA Awards - select the tab below to see the description, eligibility criteria, and nomination form.
Applications close 9am Monday 17 August 2026.
The RIQA Award for Emerging Leaders and Leadership recognises individuals who demonstrate leadership in research infrastructure through influence, initiative, inclusiveness, and collaboration. The award celebrates leaders who contribute meaningfully to research infrastructure delivery and community development, particularly those leading without formal positional authority.
Eligibility criteria:
- Nominated individual must be based in a RIQA research infrastructure facility.
Link to nomination form for all categories.
The RIQA award for Innovation in New Technologies or Capabilities celebrates individuals who have developed and/or successfully implemented innovative platforms, techniques, technologies or processes that significantly: enhances the efficient delivery of research infrastructure, creates new career pathways and/or positively enhances the impact of discovery and translational outcomes.
Eligibility:
- An individual or small team (≤ 5 people).
- Have developed and/or successfully implemented an innovative technology or capability within a RIQA research infrastructure facility in the past 3 years.
Link to nomination form for all categories.
The RIQA Award for Pan-institutional Collaboration highlights outstanding cross-disciplinary or cross institutional partnerships that exemplify RIQA’s mission of fostering Team-Queensland collaborations and co-operation in research infrastructure.
Eligibility criteria:
- Collaboration spans multiple institutions inclusive of at least two RIQA institutions (in addition to applicant’s home institution) or one institution outside of RIQA.
Link to nomination form for all categories.
The RIQA Award for Training Excellence/Outstanding Training Delivery acknowledges excellence in the design and delivery of training programs that demonstrably build researcher capability, confidence and outcomes relating to the use of research infrastructure. This includes both facility-led and individual-led initiatives.
Eligibility criteria:
- Individual-led and facility-led initiatives welcome.
- Teams limited to <5 people.
- Have developed and successfully delivered a training program relating to a RIQA institution-based research infrastructure capability in the past 3 years.
