

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.



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