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MINCHIN ANNOUNCES FUNDING FOR MAJOR NATIONAL RESEARCH FACILITIES

The Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, Senator Nick Minchin today announced the allocation of $155 million under the Commonwealth Government’s Major National Research Facilities (MNRF) Program.Fifteen proposals from across Australia will receive MNRF funding. 21 August 2001

21 August 2001             01/375

MINCHIN ANNOUNCES FUNDING FOR MAJOR NATIONAL RESEARCH FACILITIES

The Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, Senator Nick Minchin today announced the allocation of $155 million under the Commonwealth Government’s Major National Research Facilities (MNRF) Program.Fifteen proposals from across Australia will receive MNRF funding.

“The Major National Research Facilities Program was announced as part of the Commonwealth Government’s $3 billion Backing Australia’s Ability statement, a five-year commitment to strengthen innovation,” Senator Minchin said.

“The 15 proposals announced today will provide Australia with the scientific infrastructure required to build leading-edge research capabilities.

“These facilities will provide increased opportunities for excellence in scientific research and attract talented overseas researchers and organisations to our shores while retaining our own high achievers.

“I am very impressed with the high quality of the proposals and am pleased that enhanced research opportunities have been provided in wide range of industry sectors - biotechnology, information technology, medicine, agriculture, astronomy, mining, manufacturing and marine research,” Senator Minchin said.

The MNRF committee originally received 86 proposals with 37 short-listed for further consideration. Senator Minchin also said the geographic spread of the successful proponents ensured that the MNRF was truly a national program.

“We are fortunate in having facilities located across all the State and Territories.“A number of facilities will also be located in rural and regional Australia.

This not only means opportunities for jobs and economic growth in those areas but also gives access to our researchers working outside the metropolitan areas.

Senator Minchin congratulated the MNRF committee members and Chairman Peter Jonson for their commitment to this project and to fostering scientific research in Australia. A full list and a short description of proponents is attached.Further information on the Program and other Commonwealth

assistance measures can be found at the AusIndustry website at www.ausindustry.gov.au or calling the AusIndustry Hotline on 13 28 46.

Contact:   Jennifer Eddy, Senator Minchin’s Office, 02 6277 7580

Col Hickey, AusIndustry, 02 6213 6432

CMR436-01

The Bandwidth Foundry - Grant: $9.50 million

The Bandwidth Foundry will be the national facility for the provision of Photonic Integrated Circuits to Australian researchers and product developers in many industry sectors. The facility will provide the key infrastructure from which the next generation of research in photonics will flourish, to ensure Australia’s standing as a world leader in this field is maintained.

The facility will be located at the Australian Technology Park in Eveleigh, NSW.

The facility will provide a world-first research, prototyping and foundry facility for the emerging Australian photonics industry.  It will develop leading edge photonics manufacturing, technology and measurement instrumentation. There is real potential for the Australian photonics research and industry communities to establish a competitive advantage in niche areas of many industry sectors eg, information and communication technology, defence, power and aerospace.

Principal Proponent: Australian Photonics CRC

Contact: Prof Mark Sceats - 02 9351 1905

National Networked Tele-Test Facility for Integrated Systems - Grant: $4.75 million

The facility will be based on a state-of-the-art semiconductor tester located at Edith Cowan University in Perth that will operate as a virtual centre spanning Australia.  Testing nodes will be located at the University of Western Australia, Griffith University, Macquarie University, Victoria University and the University of Adelaide.  The facility will provide vital equipment to take Australia to the frontier of critically important and expanding fields in microelectronics research.

The facility will provide a capability for the electronics and microelectronics researcher and industry community around Australia to test and prototype very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuits and other systems on a chip (SOC) device, prior to moving to the manufacturing stage.  Such testing is absolutely essential to ensure that the device performs to specification.

Principal Proponent:  Edith Cowan University

Contact: Professor Kamran Eshraghian - Tel:   08 9400 5839

Australian Proteome Analysis Facility - Grant: $16.25 million

Proteomics is the high throughput, extremely sensitive process for separating, identifying and characterising proteins. The current facility is based at Macquarie University and will be extended to include the Universities of Sydney and NSW and a new node in Adelaide. The infrastructure

will provide a world class research and teaching facility which is vital for the continued success of Australian biological research.

The expanded facility will feature new equipment that overcomes technical limitations of existing equipment, thus maintaining a state-of-the-art capability and Australia’s acknowledged world lead in proteomics.  The facility will provide specialist platform technology to support academic and commercial

researchers, as well as providing high-quality training courses in functional proteomics.

Principal Proponent: Macquarie University

Contact Details: Professor Peter Bergquist - Tel:   02 9850 8614

Gemini and SKA: Australia’s Astronomy Future - Grant: $23.50 million

Location:  Gemini Observatories (Hawaii and Chile), Sydney and regional Australian Centres

The facility will assist Australia to attract part of the multi-billion dollar global business in astronomical technology to Australia including the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) to rural Australia.

Australia is one of the few locations in the world with suitable site conditions for SKA, a $1 billion facility.

This facility integrates and develops Australia’s research capability in two areas of recognised strength-optical/infra-red and radio-astronomy.  It amplifies this strength by coordinating existing facilities, and placing Australian instrument builders and industry in a prime position to capitalise on the new generation of astronomical instrumentation.

The SKA is a billion-dollar internationally-funded project to build a radio telescope that will be about 100 times more sensitive than any existing radio telescope.  The construction of an SKA prototype is a long-term strategic project  which will assist Australia in securing a significant role in the scientific exploration of the universe.

Principal Proponent: CSIRO, Australia Telescope National Facility

Contact: Professor Ray Norris - Tel: 02 9372 4416

International Livestock Resources and Information Centre - Grant:  $4.50 million

This project will assist livestock research with the development of a comprehensive data communications facility and computing capacity to facilitate a significant increase in the accumulation and dissemination of information to livestock industry organisations.

The proposed International Livestock Resources and Information Centre is a virtual research facility.  It will operate as a high-speed communications centre and will provide a substantial livestock resource knowledge database. The facility will support research essential to maintain Australia’s leading position in the global market place in livestock industries. There is significant potential for Australia to benefit from this facility.  Livestock industries currently produce $14.8 billion at farm gate.  The International Food Policy Research Institute and collaborating research organisations have identified a “livestock revolution” in which overall production of meat and milk is expected to double by year 2020, from a 1983 base.

Principal Proponent: University of New England

Contact: Mr Graeme Dennehy - 02 6773 3895

Australian Synchrotron Research Program - Grant: $14.80 million

Access to this facility will further support the Australian synchrotron user community in the areas of biotechnology, advanced materials, mineral processing, nanotechnology, information technology and communications. The facility will be based at the Photon Factory, High Energy Accelerator Research Organisation (KEK), Tsukuba Science City, Japan; and the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Chicago, USA.

This program will continue the success of the Australian Synchrotron Research Program (ASRP) in providing Australian researchers with guaranteed access to state-of-the-art synchrotron radiation

capabilities at overseas synchrotron light source facilities located in Japan and the United States. Access to these state-of-the-art synchrotron facilities enables Australian researchers to be at the forefront of international research in many research fields.

The ASRP provides guaranteed access to a range of beamlines at the two facilities, including an Australian designed and manufactured multi-configuration X-ray diffractometer, and an X-ray spectroscopy system on the Australian National Beamline Facility at the Tsukuba facility.

Principal Proponent: Australian Synchrotron Research Program Inc

Contact: Professor Helen Garnett  - 02 9717 3702

Nanostructural Analysis Network Organisation (NANO) - Grant: $11.50 million

NANO is a multi node national facility with a head office in Sydney supported by nodes at Sydney University, the University of New South Wales, the University of Queensland, The University of Western Australia, and Melbourne University.

The facility will establish new linkages through a network organisation for resource sharing between a national grid of new and existing instrumentation in microscopy and microanalysis.

Specific outcomes include the provision of new capabilities in atom probe, focussed ion beam and secondary ion mass spectroscopy for the characterisation and prototyping of nanomaterials, devices and conventional engineering materials.  Also the provision of a state-of-the-art platform for structural biology using cryogenic electron microscopy to characterise the structure, assembly, dynamics and interaction of macromolecules with substrates to enable the fields of proteomics and structural genomics. NANO provides a co-laboratory or open access system between the five largest microscopy and microanalysis facilities in Australia.

Principal Proponent: Sydney University

Contact:  Associate Professor Simon Ringer -  Tel:  02 9351 2351.

Australian Phenomics Facility - Grant: $11.50 million

This facility will enable Australian and international researchers to define the mammalian phenome by identifying how the phenotype or behaviour of cells, tissues and the body is regulated by the 40,000 genes in the genome sequence of humans and other mammals. The facility will be based at the Australian National University, Canberra.

Phenomics provides rapid identification and mass screening of proteins. The new 4500 m2 facility will be constructed to provide wide access to a new technology pioneered in Australia for efficiently analysing perturbations in all mammalian genes for their phenotypic effects. With the human and mouse genome sequences completed this year, an international race has begun aimed at identifying gene sequences with high practical use in human and animal health by connecting the phenome with the genome.  The winners of this race will garner international recognition, key intellectual property, and a prime opportunity to build new industries.

Principal Proponent: The Australian National University

Contact: Professor Christopher Goodnow - Tel:  02 6125 3621

Facility Name: Australian Genome Research Facility - Grant: $14 million

The Australian Genome Research Facility is a national resource for genetic discovery.  The facility will provide resources for the biological and biotechnological research spectrum, including bio-medicine,

animal and veterinary science, agriculture and microbiology.

The current facility has nodes in Brisbane and Melbourne.  The new facility will include an expanded node at Brisbane, the current Melbourne node and an additional node located at the University of Adelaide.

The facility will provide, state-of-the-art facilities to the scientific community and industry, that will enable the large-scale generation of genomic and genetic data including, DNA sequencing, genotyping and genetic mapping, transcription analysis and cloned gene libraries. The facility will centralise and consolidate genomics data and research from the fields of agriculture and medicine.

The expanded Australian Genome Research Facility will allow Australia to remain at the forefront of genome analysis and gene discovery and will assist the commercial work of genome research. Principal Proponent:  Australian Genome Research Facility

Contact Details: Dr Susan Forrest - Tel: 03 9345 2449



Facility Name: National Wine Industry Research Cluster - Grant: $4.50 million

This facility will support Australia’s $1.5 billion wine export industry.  The facility seeks to research and identify sustainable viticulture methodology to further reinforce Australia’s international leadership in wine production.  The facility will be co-located by the agencies of the Waite Campus Cluster, Urrbrae (SA) with nodes at Merbein (Victoria), Wagga Wagga (NSW) and the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation.

This facility will identify and track wine quality factors through the production chain using integrated and expanded qualitative sensory evaluation and winemaking from the vine to market price points.

The facility will assist in the identification and analytical measurement of compounds contributing to grape and wine quality to increase the quantitative and qualitative information required for optimising agronomic and winemaking practices. This information will lead to improvement in profitability through yield and quality enhancement. A 5Â¢ increase in profit per litre of wine represents an annual improvement of $50 million for Australian wine industries in an Australian sustained export success with projected industry exports of $4.5 billion annually.

Principal Proponent: The Australian Wine Research Institute

Contact Details: Professor Peter Hoj - Tel:   08 8303 6611

Facility Name: National Neuroscience Facility (NNF) - Grant: $18 million

Diseases of the brain or mind affect a very large proportion of people in the world.  There is the potential for this facility to generate enormous wealth for Australia by developing cures and treatments for brain disorders.  The facility will be located in the Parkville and Clayton districts in Melbourne at The University of Melbourne and Monash University.

The facility will establish a globally competitive national neuroscience cluster recognised as one of the top five worldwide, and as a preferred location for discovery and clinical product development by leading pharmaceutical companies.  Through co-location, the NNF will achieve critical mass operationally and combine intellectual capital for synergy between academic research and industry.

This facility will provide fundamental neuroscience and translational research that will provide the basis for discovery and development of targets and lead molecules as potential therapies and/or pharmaceuticals to treat neurological and psychiatric diseases, including new drug discoveries in Alzheimers disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia and brain damage resulting from trauma and stroke.

Principal Proponent: Neuroscience Victoria

Contact Details: Associate Professor William Hart - Tel:   03 8344 3600

Facility Name: Australian Computational Earth Systems Simulator (ACESS) -Grant: $4.80 million

The Australian Computational Earth Systems Simulator (ACESS) will consist of integrated software systems for multi-scale, multi-physics simulations and visualisation of earth systems combined with thematic parallel supercomputer hardware required for three-dimensional earth simulations.  ACESS will be located at the University of Queensland, with nodes in Melbourne and Perth.

ACESS will provide an advanced computational virtual earth laboratory serving the Australian earth science and industrial communities.  The facility will support earth systems and science and technology innovations, hazard management and environmental management through the 21st century.  The facility will provide a national focal point for scientific and industrial earth systems simulations to form, together with climatic and oceanic research, a holistic earth simulation capability.

ACESS will provide scientific breakthroughs, new predictive minerals exploration capabilities, and industrial innovations.

Principal Proponent: The University of Queensland

Contact Details: Professor Peter Mora - Tel:   07 3365 2128

Facility Name: National Centre for Advanced Cell Engineering - Grant: $5.50 million

The facility will combine several niches that Australian scientists and technologists have developed over the years providing a powerful resource for academic and commercial research in the areas of bioengineering cells, tissue engineered products and recombinant proteins.  Also, the facility will be used to conduct educational and training programs, research seminars, postgraduate courses and scholarships in cell engineering.

The facility will be located at Monash University in Melbourne.  The infrastructure will provide a world-class research and teaching facility which will ensure the effective dissemination of these technologies, enhance Australia’s international scientific and industrial competitiveness and retain local talent in Australia. The facility will supply academic and commercial research centres, nationally and internationally, with human stem cells for use in research as assay systems for assessment of gene function or for drug screening and toxicology, and for recombinant protein production.

Principal Proponent:  Monash University

Contact Details: Professor Alan Trounson  Tel:   03 9594 7100

Facility Name:  Arafura-Timor Research Facility - Grant:  $3.25 million

The facility will enable strategic commercialisation, sustainable management and appropriate conservation of the marine and coastal ecosystems of the Arafura and Timor seas, for Australia and our regional neighbours.  The facility will be based in Darwin, NT.

The facility will comprise a new wet and dry laboratory, supporting advanced environmental control facilities.

The facility will improve the national capacity to describe, benefit from and use the biota’s

genetic resources and enhance regional cooperation and regional economic stability, through science and

the commercialisation of research for Australia and nations adjoining our exclusive economic zone;

Principal Proponent: Australian Institute of Marine Science

Contact Details: Professor Stephen Hall - Tel:  07 4753 4490

Facility Name: Australian Maritime Hydrodynamic Research Centre - Grant:  $4.50 million

This facility will provide an internationally competitive experimental and theoretical hydrodynamic research capability for Australia, supporting growth industries in aquaculture, fast ferries and offshore.  The facility will be based at the Australian Maritime College, Launceston and Beauty Point, Tasmania.

The facility will consist of a suite of upgraded hydrodynamic facilities comprising a cavitation tunnel, ship handling simulator, towing tank, circulating water channel and model test basin.

The facility will further develop and link a suite of complementary hydrodynamic research facilities in support of the Australian Defence Force, the maritime industry and higher education maritime/fluid mechanics research.

The facility will develop a unique Australian pool of intellectual capital focussed on maritime hydrodynamics and capable of solving research problems currently sent offshore. The facility will deliver substantial economic efficiencies through focussing on the hydrodynamic challenges facing the Australian maritime industry - an industry which contributes around $14 billion annually (3.2 per cent GDP), employing approximately 80 000 people.

Principal Proponent: Australian Maritime College

Contact Details: Dr Neil Otway - Tel: 03 6335 4711 Return to previous page

