The Victorian Government has proudly supported Victoria’s most prestigious awards for science and innovation since 1998.

Victoria is the Australian capital of innovation and the state’s best and brightest have been celebrated in the Victoria Prize and Fellowship Awards for 2020.

The Victorian Government has proudly supported Victoria’s most prestigious awards for science and innovation since 1998, delivering them in partnership with VESKI since 2004.

The Victoria Prize acknowledges exceptional professional achievement, supporting innovators to continue their important work – forging new frontiers and developing the technologies and treatments that improve quality of life for people around the world.

Professor Kay Crossley of La Trobe University received the $50,000 Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation in the Life Sciences for an eminent career that includes the development of exercise-based treatments for hip and knee pain and osteoarthritis, revolutionising the prevention and management of hip and knee pain and early onset osteoarthritis.

Under her leadership, the La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre has come to be regarded as a world-leading institution.

Distinguished Professor Yi-Min Xie from RMIT University received the $50,000 Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation in the Physical Sciences category for his outstanding contributions to the development of Evolutionary Structural Optimisation (ESO) and Bi-directions ESO (BESO).

This technology is used by thousands of engineers and architects around the world to design structures including several landmark buildings.

Professor Xie has also extended this technology to the design of new cellular materials and composites. These materials are critical to the development of impact-resistant body armours for soldiers and advanced biomedical devices for patients.

Victoria Fellowships valued at up to $18,000 each were awarded to 12 early-career researchers to assist them to take international study missions when conditions allow – six Fellowships in life sciences and six in physical sciences.

These Awards and Fellowships provide Victoria’s top scientists and researchers with global opportunities to expand their research and collaboration networks, driving new ideas and products in local industries that will drive future innovation and economic recovery.

As stated by Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford

“Congratulations to the 2020 Victoria Prize winners for their outstanding achievements, for improving quality of life for so many and for making Victoria a world-leading innovation hub.”

“We’re continuing to support Victorian research and innovation – not only does this sector play a key role in driving economic growth and job creation, it also improves the lives of Victorians and the lives of people around the world.”

Originally published at Mirage news