Queensland needs to invest more in research and innovation as the resources sector winds down, the Greens say.
The party launched a plan on Tuesday to diversify the economy by providing $262 million worth of research grants over five years to scientists, entrepreneurs and businesses that develop products that meet "real human needs".
"That is to say they are not simply wasteful of resources and energy and duplicate already existing consumer products," lead Queensland spokesperson Dr Charles Worringham said.
"But rather they are the innovative kinds of products and services that will really solve and address significant human needs."
Dr Worringham joined federal deputy Greens leader Adam Bandt, Queensland senator Larissa Waters and several Queensland scientists to launch the proposal in Brisbane.
The products would also need to improve the use of energy or material resources and be viable across all stages of the economic cycle to be eligible, Dr Worringham said.
The party, which is standing candidates in all 89 seats at the January 31 Queensland election, would set up a panel to judge which projects were suitable.
Mr Bandt said the Australian and Queensland economies needed to be diversified.
"We're going to need something to sell to the rest of the world when the rest of the world tells us to stop digging," he said.
Mr Bandt presented a small device that could be connected to an iPhone to monitor a person's heart rate as an example of a suitable innovation for the plan.
"We used to prop up the car industry. Now it's time for us to say what other industries need support. Areas like health and medical technologies and renewable energies," he said.
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