Speaking in Madrid, RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Alec Cameron said that AuSpire will provide a unique training experience for postdoctoral researchers in different disciplines.
“Furthermore, AuSpire will further strengthen the already significant research ties between Australia and Spain, laying the groundwork for ongoing collaboration,” said Cameron.
The announcement event was also attended by the Ambassador-designate of Australia to Spain Her Excellency Rosemary Morris-Castico, who said that projects like AuSpire underpin the strong Australia-Spain bilateral relationship.
“This new collaboration led by Australian university RMIT with leading Spanish industry partners demonstrates a shared commitment to excellence in research and innovation,” said Morris-Castico.
Joaquín Mollinedo, President of the Spain-Australia Council Foundation – a unique platform connecting public and private initiatives in coordination with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign affairs – also endorsed the new program.
“Connections with Australia in Spain remain a top priority in both foreign policy as well as for companies.
“We see AuSpire as an excellent initiative and wish all partners the best success,” said Mollinedo.
Belén Linares, Chief Innovation Officer at Cepsa, spoke positively about the opportunities that the AuSpire network will bring.
“We are proud to carry out this innovative collaboration between RMIT and Cepsa, which enhances our relationship with Australia,” said Linares.
“Australia is a country at the forefront of innovation in energy transition, especially in the field of green hydrogen technology, which is one of our strategic core technologies.
“The AuSpire collaboration allows us to integrate postdoctoral fellows into Cepsa’s Innovation Center for Energy Transition and boost our Positive Motion strategy for 2030.”
AuSpire’s postdoctoral fellows can look forward to undergoing interdisciplinary training in transversal skills, doing an international or intersectoral secondment in Spain or Australia, and broadening their knowledge to open alternative future career paths.
The first global recruitment campaign for postdoctoral applicants to join the program will open in February 2025.
AuSpire partners (Spain): RMIT Europe (coordinator), Almirall, Cepsa, IDOM Consulting Engineering Architecture, monodon (Navantia), Dovetail Electric Aviation, Datlight, Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology – ICN2, Barcelona Supercomputing Centre, Eurecat Technology Centre, University of Loyola, Acciona Construction.
AuSpire partners (Australia): RMIT University, University of Canberra, Aurecon.
Program contact: auspire@rmit.edu.au
Story: Hannah Tribe
