Canberra, Monday 19 November 2001

ANU core partner in major ICT research bid

The Australian National University has announced today that it is one of the core partners in the National Bid for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre of Excellence. The initiative will bid for $124.8 million in Federal funding under the Backing Australia's Ability innovation statement.

National ICT Australia (NICTA) is the proposal for a new breed of research centre in Australia. The intention of the foundation partners is that it be National needs driven, and has been positioned as a National Bid. The bid company, National ICT Pty Limited, which proposes to launch the centre is supported by an innovative private-public partnership of major industry, public sector research and government organisations. The partners share the vision of transforming Australia's capability in ICT based industry.

The National Bid core partners that have teamed to form the centre operator include Allen & Buckeridge, Bovis Lend Lease, Redfern Photonics, ACT Government, NSW Government, Australian National University, University of New South Wales, University of Sydney and the South Australian Consortium for ITT+.

This operator group is supported by a nationwide group of private and public organizations, including ACTEW-AGL, Acton SemiConductors, ADC Australia, Adelaide City Council, Adelaide University, AEEMA (Australian Electronic Equipment Manufacturer's Association), Airp Systems, Alcatel, Auspace, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australian Business Limited (ABL), Australian Defence Force Academy, Australian Graduate School of Management, Australian Partnership for Advanced Computing (APAC), Australian Photonics CRC, Avaya, Blake Dawson Waldron, Capital Airport Group, Capital Technic Group, Catalyst Interactive, CEA Technologies, Centre for Integrated Dynamics and Control (CIDAC), Centre for Quantum Computing Technology, Cisco Systems, Compaq Computer Australia, Compucat, Computer Associates, CRC for Smart Internet Technology (CRCSIT), CRC for Sensor Signal and Information Processing (CRC SSIP), Defence Science Technology Organisation (DSTO), Epicorp, Flinders University, Heidrick & Struggles, Macquarie Bank, Microsoft, mNet Corporation, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Network Associates International, Nokia, NortelNetworks, Protocom, QPSX Ltd, SAS Institute, Seeing Machines, Sentinel, Silicon Graphics International, Softlaw Corporation, South Australian Government, Technology Park-Mawson Lakes, The Distillery, Tower Software, TransAct, Unisys, University of Canberra, University of South Australia, and Wizard Information Systems.

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.

As a major national asset with several facilities, including major research nodes in Sydney and Canberra; and satellite facilities, including Adelaide, 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 300 researchers and build on the recognized strength of it's major research partners.

The established ICT industry leadership of NSW, ACT and SA will be enhanced through the creation of spin-off companies to commercialise new technologies. Employment and export growth of ICT products and services in areas such as computer science, bio-informatics and photonics will be accelerated.

For more information contact: John Fick, Director, National ICT Pty Limited Telephone: 02 8249 4405 ; Mobile: 0412 449960 Professor Brian Anderson, Director, ANU Research School of Information Sciences and Engineering.Telephone: 6125 8667

94/2001

© 2000 Marketing & Communications Division,
The Australian National University.
Questions or Comments?

Last Modified Tue, July 16, 2002