Transforming Graduate Education — Where Industry Becomes the Classroom, Skills are Applied in Real Time, and Careers Begin on Day One
The Australian Graduate Industry Research School (AGIRS) is an NHMRC-Approved Administering Institution dedicated to reshaping the way graduate education and research are delivered. AGIRS was established to close the gap between academia and industry by creating a model where education is immersive, applied, and focused on solving real-world problems. Our mission is to unite Australia’s graduate research community with global industry, academic, and government partners to deliver solutions with measurable social, economic, and environmental impact, while reinvesting in education to empower future generations.
Through our flagship platforms, ExpertGate and the Australian–Global Research & Innovation Collaborations Hub, we connect the top academic and industry experts to collaborate on projects that address pressing national and global challenges. These platforms are designed to remove barriers to collaboration, accelerate project delivery, and ensure that outcomes are practical, scalable, and beneficial to both industry and society.
At AGIRS, the traditional classroom is replaced with direct engagement in industry from the very start of a student’s degree. Our PhD, Master’s, and Bachelor’s programs are industry-embedded, placing students in real workplace environments where they contribute to live projects, apply skills in real time, and work alongside experienced professionals. This approach ensures that graduates leave with not only a qualification but also years of relevant work experience, a professional network, and the confidence to deliver results from day one.
Our work is concentrated in three high-impact sectors where Australia has the potential to lead globally: agriculture and food science, healthcare and life science, and manufacturing and engineering. In agriculture and food science, we focus on building climate-resilient farming systems, improving food security, and accelerating the adoption of agri-tech and precision farming. In healthcare and life science, we work on expanding access to quality care through digital and AI-driven solutions, improving early detection and prevention of disease, and ensuring that medical research translates quickly into clinical application. In manufacturing and engineering, we focus on advancing automation, developing clean manufacturing technologies, improving industrial supply chain resilience, and delivering engineering solutions for emerging global needs.
We are also developing the Sydney AI Lab, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to training young people and professionals in artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, and data science. The lab will focus on industry-specific AI applications in agriculture, healthcare, and manufacturing, while also serving as a hub for applied research, innovation incubation, and global collaboration.
A central part of our mission is addressing the barriers that prevent collaboration between experts, industry, and government. To achieve this, AGIRS established ExpertGate, a global platform designed to connect the top five percent of academic and industry experts in one accessible, AI-powered environment. ExpertGate enables faster partner matching, streamlined project design and funding applications, and new income streams for experts through training, consultancy, and research projects. Because AGIRS owns and operates ExpertGate, we ensure it aligns with our values and reinvests 50 percent of its profits into educational initiatives for underprivileged communities.
Looking ahead, AGIRS will expand its industry-embedded education model to include additional high-demand sectors, grow ExpertGate to connect 20,000 top experts and over 100 global partners, and train more than 5,000 students and professionals in AI through the Sydney AI Lab by 2030. We will establish dedicated innovation clusters in each focus sector to move research from concept to market-ready solutions and launch targeted scholarship programs for students from rural, remote, and disadvantaged backgrounds.
AGIRS was created because education, research, and industry cannot work in isolation if we want meaningful, sustainable progress. We prepare graduates who can step confidently into the workforce with proven experience and the skills to lead innovation. By combining applied education, global collaboration, and a strong social responsibility commitment, AGIRS is building a future where knowledge is translated into action, and action creates lasting impact for Australia and the world.
AGIRS is in its establishment phase and is building the foundations for a new model of graduate education and research collaboration. While we do not currently offer degree programs, our strategic plan outlines a pathway to launch industry-embedded PhD, Master’s, and Bachelor’s programs in the coming years. These programs will be designed in partnership with industry, ensuring students learn through direct engagement with real-world projects rather than traditional classroom lectures.
Our flagship initiatives — ExpertGate and the Australian–Global Research & Innovation Collaborations Hub — are already being developed to connect Australia’s academic and industry talent with global partners. In parallel, we are planning the Sydney AI Lab, a dedicated facility for training youth and professionals in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics, with a focus on practical applications in agriculture, healthcare, and manufacturing.
By 2030, we aim to connect over 20,000 top experts and more than 100 global institutions through ExpertGate, establish sector-specific innovation clusters, and launch targeted scholarship programs for underprivileged and rural students. Our commitment is to create an institution that delivers measurable social, economic, and environmental benefits through research, training, and collaboration.
No. AGIRS is in the establishment phase and is currently developing its industry-embedded PhD, Master’s, and Bachelor’s programs. These will launch in the coming years and will be designed in partnership with industry to ensure students learn through real-world projects rather than traditional classroom lectures.
AGIRS programs will be fully integrated with industry, allowing students to gain professional experience, work on live projects, and build networks from the start of their degree. This approach ensures graduates will be career-ready upon completion.
ExpertGate is AGIRS’s flagship global collaboration platform, designed to connect the top 5% of academic and industry experts worldwide. It will make it easier to find the right expertise, form partnerships quickly, and deliver high-impact research and innovation projects.
The Sydney AI Lab is currently in the planning stage. It will be a state-of-the-art facility for training youth and professionals in AI, machine learning, robotics, and sector-specific digital technologies, with a focus on agriculture, healthcare, and manufacturing applications.
AGIRS will reinvest 50% of ExpertGate’s profits into educational initiatives for underprivileged communities. This will include scholarships, targeted skills training, and outreach programs for rural and disadvantaged regions, ensuring that innovation benefits everyone.