ACT Government backing for ICT excellence

ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher today announced that the ACT Government has made an in principle decision to enter into a new four-year funding agreement with NICTA, Australia's information and communication technology (ICT) centre of excellence.

"I am delighted to reaffirm the ACT Government's long-term commitment to NICTA's Canberra Research Laboratory," the Chief Minister said.

"The proposed arrangement is another example of the ACT Government's commitment to investing in Canberra's future growth as a city and will provide $12 million, consisting of grants and payroll tax waivers over a four-year period starting on 1 July 2012.

"This is a direct investment in Canberra as a centre for research and innovation and builds on and extends the ACT Government's previous support for NICTA, which totals $26.35 million over the past nine years.

"NICTA's contribution to the ACT economy is significant, with the Canberra Research Laboratory attracting direct Australian Government expenditure of $90million during the period 2003-2011, as well as significant in-kind contributions from the ANU," the Chief Minister said.

In Canberra NICTA has a staff of 55 full-time researchers and 52 PhD students who are working with government agencies and Canberra-based businesses to developing technology that will meet the current and future needs of the ACT and the nation.

The ACT is a founding member of the consortium that helped establish NICTA in 2002. An important feature of the new funding arrangement is the Government and NICTA's desire to deepen research and support relationships with ACT Government agencies.

"Over the coming months the ACT Government and NICTA will establish a number of projects that will utilise NICTA's advanced ICT expertise which can add value to the services we deliver," the Chief Minister said.

"For example, we look forward to seeing NICTA progress its e-Health Living Lab concept here in Canberra and draw in the research and clinical expertise across our universities and hospital system.

"NICTA is also developing advanced technology to make transport systems more efficient with the potential to save millions of dollars in direct costs and also reduce carbon emissions which if applied to local transport would be of great benefit to our community," the Chief Minister concluded.