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Cutting edge ICT laboratory opened

[ Research Review 0307 ]

Victorian Minister for Infor­mation and Communication Technology (ICT) Marsha Thomson officially opened the National ICT Australia (NICTA) Victoria Research Laboratory (VRL) at the University of Melbourne’s Parkville campus late last year.

University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Professor Glyn Davis, speaking at the opening, said the University was delighted to be involved with NICTA and the State Government in building Australia’s ICT research and research training capabilities, as well as commercialisation in the ICT sector.

“The University’s contribution is not only in providing the premises for NICTA’s Victoria Laboratory at our Parkville campus – we have also provided seed funding for world-class research talent through our staff and students,” he said.

Research Director of the Victoria Laboratory is Professor Rob Evans (Electrical and Electronic Engineering).

NICTA is a collaborative government-funded research initiative in ICT. The University has committed $37 million to the partnership, bringing total investment in the Victoria Laboratory to almost $117 million.

An additional $20 million funding for the VRL was announced at the opening by the Minister.

“With its amazing achievements to date, including the wireless sensor water management system NICTOR, we are confident that this new funding will see the VRL continue to develop world-leading ICT innovations,” she said.

The NICTA partnership provides important training opportunities for Engineering students from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering.

Students can apply for scholarships provided by NICTA as they commence their PhD or Masters leading to a PhD. NICTA currently supports 65 PhD students in the new Victorian Laboratory.

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