Canberra, Tuesday 28 August, 2001

ANU part of a national technology centre bid

The Australian National University is part of a national bid to secure funding for the Information, Communications and Technology Centre of Excellence (ICT) announced in the Federal Government's 'Backing Australia's Ability' policy. The proposed Commonwealth funding for the ICT centre is $129.5 million over five years.

The ICT National Bid major research partners include the Australian National University (ANU), the University of New South Wales (UNSW), and the University of Sydney (USYD), with support from the ACT Government, the Australian Defence Forces Academy (ADFA) and the University of Canberra (UC).

The bid will be announced at Today's launch of the Cooperative Research Centre for Smart Internet Technology in Canberra by ACT Business Minister Brendan Smyth.

"The focus of the bid is on building an Information, Communications and Technology Centre of Excellence (ICT) that will be a national asset," ANU Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Frank Jackson said. "As a major national asset with several facilities, including Sydney and Canberra, it is planned that the centre will make a major contribution to research and education in advanced communication and information technologies in Australia. It is estimated that the world-class centre will employ more than 250 researchers and build on the recognised strength of its major research partners."

The ICT excellence centre will boost research in areas such as computer science, bio-informatics and photonics. The established ICT industry leadership of ACT and NSW will be enhanced through the creation of spin-off companies to commercialise new technologies.

The National Bid is finalising other partnering arrangements and will soon announce additional partners from industry, research and government sectors at the national and state levels.

For more information contact:
John Fick, Bid Manager, National ICT Pty Limited, 0418 633 145 (mobile) email jfick@bigpond.net.au
Professor Frank Jackson, ANU Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) 02 6125 8487
Brendan Smyth, ACT Business Minister, 02 6205 0062
or Clarissa Thorpe, ANU Media Liaison, on 02 6125 5575 or 0416 249 245

No: 66/2001

© 2000 Marketing & Communications Division,
The Australian National University.
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Last Modified Tue, July 16, 2002