World-class ICT laboratory opens in Canberra

ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has officially opened the $60 million National Information Communication Technology Australia (NICTA) Laboratory Facility in Canberra.

Stanhope said the ACT government is proud of its $20 million investment and its role as a founding member of NICTA.

"NICTA, and our investment in it, is all about driving and further developing the high-tech, high-value knowledge economy of the ACT," he said.

"This is something the ACT Labor government considers as key to securing the strength of the ACT economy into the future. The official opening of these state-of-the-art premises today marks another key milestone on the pathway to strengthening Canberra's credentials as Australia's knowledge capital.

"The ACT government's initial $20 million investment in NICTA, in addition to the provision of $6 million over five years in the 2007-08 ACT Budget, represents a significant investment in further developing Canberra's competitive advantage in ICT and our city's reputation as an international leader in knowledge-based industries."

Canberra is the largest single operational branch of NICTA, with 97 staff members and a further 65 students undergoing PhD studies in Canberra. NICTA is currently implementing 17 research projects in its Canberra branch, including the development of new wireless technologies, smart cars, medical imaging and human performance monitoring.