QUT grants to set to enhance sports data science training for Australia’s sports tech-driven future
Queensland University of Technology has secured two grants totalling $2.27 million to spearhead the training of a cohort of sports data scientists, addressing the evolving challenges in Australia’s sports tech industry.
This initiative, facilitated by CSIRO’s Next Generation Graduates program, aims to attract and train the next wave of technology specialists, providing essential funding and support.
The grants will assist the engagement of 25 graduate students in industry-led research projects, internships, and graduate research student training. The leadership of this multi-disciplinary research team is in the capable hands of Distinguished Professor Kerrie Mengersen and Dr Paul Wu from the QUT Centre for Data Science.
“With Brisbane, and Australia, getting ready to host the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics, there is an even greater focus on the crucial importance of data in sport,” highlighted Centre Director Mengersen.
The Australian sports tech industry, contributing up to $4.5 billion in revenue and employing over 10,000 individuals across 600 companies, underscores the importance of advancing capabilities to meet the analytical demands of emerging sports technologies.
“The proliferation of data and emerging video and sensor technologies brings new opportunities and complexity for data-evidenced insights and predictions about the athlete-centred system in sport,” Dr Wu stated.
The research endeavours will focus on developing data-driven tools to enhance health and performance in both community and elite sports, offering a competitive advantage for the upcoming home Olympics in 2032.
“Already, QUT researchers in data science and machine learning are working with the Australian Institute of Sports (AIS), the Queensland Academy of Sports (QAS) and other sports organisations on a range of projects including enhancing data analytics practices and race profiling,” added Aaron Quigley, Science Director of CSIRO’s Data61.
“Through the Next Generation Graduates program, we are growing the pipeline of artificial intelligence and emerging technology specialists.”
“This cohort of sports tech specialists will help transform athlete health and performance through personalised outcomes in high performance sports and para-sports.”
