Published Friday, 27 June, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Premier announces multi-million dollar investment in ICT research
Premier Anna Bligh has announced new Queensland Government funding of $18.55 million to support important information and communications technology (ICT) research.
Ms Bligh and said that the National ICT Australia Queensland Research Laboratory (NICTA QRL) would receive $10.05 million over the next four years while the Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation (QCIF) would receive $8.5 million over three years.
“The new funding builds on previous investments by the Queensland Government and takes our total commitment to these two facilities to $38.55 million,” said Ms Bligh while speaking at the Australian Information Industries Association lunch in Brisbane yesterday.
“Both facilities are working on some amazing projects.
“NICTA is Australia’s largest research organization dedicated to ICT research and NICTA QRL is playing an absolutely vital role in addressing the long term public safety of Queenslanders.
“Since it opened in 2004 as part of the Queensland Government’s Institute for ICT Innovation, the laboratory has developed a number of important technologies within its key project ‘Smart Applications for emergencies (SAFE), and project outcomes are already being used by a number of agencies.
“For example the laboratory has been working closely with Queensland Transport to develop a new Intelligent Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) security technology to detect unusual and potentially threatening behaviour around key transit centres.
“The Queensland Police Service is also using a new software system developed by NICTA QRL for authenticating and protecting digital evidence.”
Ms Bligh said Queensland-based researchers working at NICTA QRL had also developed Wireless mesh network technology – a networking solution for emergency services requiring high bandwidth in very dynamic situations.
“With the ability to relay voice, video and data such an application would be highly useful in communicating a patient’s condition back to a hospital specialist when transportation may be difficult or time of the essence,” she said.
The Premier said the new four-year funding agreement would see greater collaboration between the laboratory and Queensland industry as well as a stronger focus on commercialisation.
“NICTA welcomes this new investment from the Queensland State Government,” said NICTA QRL Director Dr Chris Scott.
“The funding means that NICTA will be able to continue to build on its research successes in the area of safety and security to improve Queensland, and Australia’s ability to respond to natural disasters and terrorist events.
“These research outcomes will provide commercial opportunities for local industry and enable worldwide markets to be addressed in these growing areas of need,” he said
Ms Bligh said the work being done by the QCIF was equally important.
“The QCIF is making some major breakthroughs in the fields of e-Science, e-Research, nanotechnology, drug design, security, biosecurity, mining and environmental engineering and medical imaging,” Ms Bligh said.
The QCIF was established in 2000 by six Queensland universities - Central Queensland University, Griffith University, James Cook University, Queensland University of Technology, the University of Queensland and the University of Southern Queensland.
Chief Executive Officer of QCIF, Professor Bernard Pailthorpe, welcomed the Queensland Government’s commitment.
"The renewed investment in QCIF by the Queensland Government will enable the upgrading of essential advanced computing infrastructure to assist Queensland's researchers be internationally competitive and allow QCIF to expand its Industry Outreach Program,” Professor Pailthorpe said.
“Additionally, it will help QCIF to commence a new program designed to assist the State in addressing infrastructure challenges in areas such as urban congestion and water management," he said.
Friday 27 June 2008
Media: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office)
Ms Bligh and said that the National ICT Australia Queensland Research Laboratory (NICTA QRL) would receive $10.05 million over the next four years while the Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation (QCIF) would receive $8.5 million over three years.
“The new funding builds on previous investments by the Queensland Government and takes our total commitment to these two facilities to $38.55 million,” said Ms Bligh while speaking at the Australian Information Industries Association lunch in Brisbane yesterday.
“Both facilities are working on some amazing projects.
“NICTA is Australia’s largest research organization dedicated to ICT research and NICTA QRL is playing an absolutely vital role in addressing the long term public safety of Queenslanders.
“Since it opened in 2004 as part of the Queensland Government’s Institute for ICT Innovation, the laboratory has developed a number of important technologies within its key project ‘Smart Applications for emergencies (SAFE), and project outcomes are already being used by a number of agencies.
“For example the laboratory has been working closely with Queensland Transport to develop a new Intelligent Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) security technology to detect unusual and potentially threatening behaviour around key transit centres.
“The Queensland Police Service is also using a new software system developed by NICTA QRL for authenticating and protecting digital evidence.”
Ms Bligh said Queensland-based researchers working at NICTA QRL had also developed Wireless mesh network technology – a networking solution for emergency services requiring high bandwidth in very dynamic situations.
“With the ability to relay voice, video and data such an application would be highly useful in communicating a patient’s condition back to a hospital specialist when transportation may be difficult or time of the essence,” she said.
The Premier said the new four-year funding agreement would see greater collaboration between the laboratory and Queensland industry as well as a stronger focus on commercialisation.
“NICTA welcomes this new investment from the Queensland State Government,” said NICTA QRL Director Dr Chris Scott.
“The funding means that NICTA will be able to continue to build on its research successes in the area of safety and security to improve Queensland, and Australia’s ability to respond to natural disasters and terrorist events.
“These research outcomes will provide commercial opportunities for local industry and enable worldwide markets to be addressed in these growing areas of need,” he said
Ms Bligh said the work being done by the QCIF was equally important.
“The QCIF is making some major breakthroughs in the fields of e-Science, e-Research, nanotechnology, drug design, security, biosecurity, mining and environmental engineering and medical imaging,” Ms Bligh said.
The QCIF was established in 2000 by six Queensland universities - Central Queensland University, Griffith University, James Cook University, Queensland University of Technology, the University of Queensland and the University of Southern Queensland.
Chief Executive Officer of QCIF, Professor Bernard Pailthorpe, welcomed the Queensland Government’s commitment.
"The renewed investment in QCIF by the Queensland Government will enable the upgrading of essential advanced computing infrastructure to assist Queensland's researchers be internationally competitive and allow QCIF to expand its Industry Outreach Program,” Professor Pailthorpe said.
“Additionally, it will help QCIF to commence a new program designed to assist the State in addressing infrastructure challenges in areas such as urban congestion and water management," he said.
Friday 27 June 2008
Media: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office)