MEDIA RELEASE
(Under Embargo until 11.00am December 12)
$90 MILLION FOR NEW RESEARCH CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE
12 December, 2002 MIN 261/02
Australian scientists at the forefront of international research
into robotic wheelchairs and quantum computers are among those who
will benefit from a groundbreaking initiative in science and
research.
I am very pleased to announce the eight Centres of Excellence
selected by the Australian Research Council (ARC) to share almost
$90 million over the next five years to undertake leading edge
research.
The initiative flows from the Howard Government’s $3 billion
Backing Australia’s Ability innovation package.
In January I announced that one third of new funds awarded by the
ARC would be targeted to four priority areas; Complex/Intelligent
Systems, Genome/Phenome Research, Nano-materials and Bio-materials
and Photon Science and Technology. Total funds so far committed by
the ARC to these areas is $170 million over five years.
The eight flagship centres I am announcing today will be managed
by world class leaders in their fields and will build Australia’s
capacity in these four priority areas.
The new Centres will provide the scale and focus needed for
Australia to compete internationally, with exceptional strength in
fundamental research and commitment to building linkages between
researchers and industry. These eight centres have already formed
extensive national and international partnerships, attracting nearly
$50 million through collaborations.
The aims of the new Centres range from the creation of photonic
chips (the basic building block of the next generation of ultra-high
bandwidth optical telecommunications systems) to developing smart
legume breeds which can help reverse environmental degradation.
The Howard Government has provided strong support for research
and development. For Australia, a relatively small nation of some 19
million people, it is important that we maximise our opportunities
for research breakthroughs by focusing on our strengths –
notwithstanding the importance of allowing latitude for ‘blue sky’
research.
Research in the ARC Centres of Excellence falls within the
National Research Priorities recently announced by the Prime
Minister. The list of recipients is attached.
For further information:
| Dr Nelson’s Office: |
|
Ross Hampton |
|
0419 484 095 |
|
| ARC: |
|
Professor Vicki Sara |
|
0412 623 053 |
|
|
ARC Centre of Excellence |
Administering university |
Collaborating Institutions* |
Interim Director |
Total Funding 2003-2007 |
|
Quantum Computer Technology |
University of New South Wales |
UQ; UM; MQU; GU; US; ADFA; DSTO; Los Alamos National
Laboratory; Ohio State University; LPS University of Maryland;
Hewlett-Packard Laboratories. |
Prof RG Clark |
$14,000,000.00 |
| Advanced Silicon
Photovoltaics and Photonics |
The University of New
South Wales |
Max-Planck-Institut
fur Mikrostrukturphysik; FOM Institute for Atomic and
Molecular Physics;
Pacific Solar Pty Ltd. |
Prof SR Wenham |
$12,175,000.00 |
| Biotechnology and
Development |
The University of
Newcastle |
MU; UQ; UM; ANU. |
Prof RJ Aitken |
$9,458,900.00 |
| Autonomous Systems |
The University of
Sydney |
UNSW; UTS. |
Prof HF Durrant-Whyte |
$10,000,000.00 |
| Ultrahigh-bandwidth
Devices for Optical Systems |
The University of
Sydney |
ANU; UTS; MQU; SUT;
Osaka University; University of Central Florida; Lucent
Technologies; Institut Fresnel; NSW Department of Information
Technology and Management. |
Dr CM de Sterke |
$11,513,848.00 |
| Mathematical and
Statistical Modelling of Complex Systems |
The University of
Melbourne |
ANU; UNSW; LTU; UQ. |
Prof AJ Guttmann |
$10,906,575.00 |
| Integrative Legume
Research |
The University of
Queensland |
ANU; UM; UN. |
Prof PM Gresshoff |
$10,000,000.00 |
|
Quantum-Atom Optics |
The Australian National University |
UQ; SUT; Universitat Hannover; Universite Pierre et Marie
Curie; Vrije Universiteit; University of Otago; University of
Auckland; Imperial College |
Prof HA Bachor |
$10,950,000.00 |
* Abbreviations: Australian Defence Force Academy ADFA;
Australian National University ANU; Defence Science and Technology
Organisation DSTO; Griffith University GU; La Trobe University LTU;
Macquarie University MQU; Monash University MU; Swinburne University
of Technology SUT; University of Melbourne UM; University of New
South Wales UNSW; University of Newcastle UN; University of Sydney
US; University of Technology, Sydney UTS.
|
