Research on the rise

Flinders University researchers have reached new heights with their unwavering dedication to achieving research excellence.

This transformational period has seen our external research income jump 50% from two years ago and an incredible 70% from four years ago. In 2023 we are expecting this trajectory to continue.

Our outstanding achievements are a strong indication of the ambition that drives our discoveries, which we translate into practice to make a positive difference to people’s lives.

Recent achievements (2021/2022/2023)

• Ranked seventh in the country for National Health and Medical Research Council grants won by a university 
• Led a successful Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) bid for the Marine Bioproducts CRC 
• Won our first Australian Research Council Indigenous Project Grant. 
• Secured our first ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Biofilm Research and Innovation 
• Won a $34 million federal Department of Health contract to establish a national centre for research in aged care management, named Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation (ARIIA) 
• Secured a $20 million joint commitment from the federal and state governments and co-investment from Flinders along with industry, particularly BAE Systems, to establish a large-scale Factory of the Future facility at Tonsley Innovation District 
• Climbed 17 places in the influential Times Higher Education ranking to 266 in the world (2022), placing us on the cusp of the top 1% of the world’s universities 
• Achieved a ranking of 46 in the world for Archaeology. In 2022 Maritime Archaeology will celebrate its 20th year at Flinders 
• Launched our new $2.5 million photoemission electron microscope that will be instrumental in progressing research into biofuels and hydrogen energy, and help local companies to develop hi-tech products and services 

• Construction began on the $255 million Health and Medical Research Building, the flagship of our Flinders Village initiative which will create Adelaide’s largest fully integrated education, research, healthcare and lifestyle precinct 
  
• Research income soars 140% in five years 
• Up 42 places to 368 in ARWU 2023 
  
• Strong performance in 2023 QS subject ranking: 
  
  • Archaeology #3 in Australia
    
  • Medicine #11 in Australia
    
  • Nursing #11 in Australia 
    
• Two top 50 world rankings in 2022 ARWU subject ranking:  
  
  • Water Resources #20 globally 
    
  • Nursing #48 globally 
    
• $4.5m in ARC Future Fellowships for 2023 
• $8.8m in 2023 MRFF grants – eighth highest number of projects awarded nationally 
• New research lab with Australian of the Year Taryn Brumfitt to tackle body image