NICTA scores $42m in govt funding

National ICT Australia (NICTA) has received $42 million in federal government funding for 2015-16.

The research organisation develops technology solutions for industry. It receives funding from the federal government and also collaborates with industry.

“With over 580 researchers, technical and professional staff, 260 PhD students working across 30 research projects, training and commercialisation activities and partnerships with 22 universities, NICTA brings both scale and depth to Australia’s ICT research,” Senator Kate Lundy, Minister Assisting for the Digital Economy, said in a statement.

“Investing in skills, innovation and research is essential for Australia to remain productive and competitive and to ensure economic growth into the future.”

Hugh Durrant-Whyte, CEO at NICTA, welcomed the funding.

“As Australia’s largest centre of excellence for information and communications technology, NICTA is uniquely placed to undertake large-scale, world-class research and development projects that make a real difference to Australia’s economy,” he said.

“NICTA uses advanced information technologies to support existing industries like health, resources and services, and also to create new technology-based industries. We are proud of the progress we have made so far at NICTA and look forward to the future advances this new funding will support.”

NICTA recently unveiled a $12 million, three-year research project that will use big data to deliver biodiversity and ecological insights for scientists.

Technology services firm Infosys and NICTA also announced early this year that they would conduct research into technology problems that affect businesses, such as cloud computing resiliency.

Follow CIO Australia on Twitter and Like us on Facebook… Twitter: @CIO_Australia, Facebook: CIO Australia, or take part in the CIO conversation on LinkedIn: CIO Australia