"Australia needs solid investment like this in research facilities and infrastructure to help our nation's researchers make the important discoveries of the future."
The Australian National University (ANU) has welcomed the Government's response to the National Research Infrastructure Roadmap and commitment to research infrastructure and research excellence.
ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt said the Government's $1.9 billion investment in research infrastructure will keep researchers from ANU and across the nation at the forefront of addressing some of the world's greatest challenges.
"Australia needs solid investment like this in research facilities and infrastructure to help our nation's researchers make the important discoveries of the future," Professor Schmidt said.
"Investment in national research infrastructure allows great research universities such as ANU to deliver excellent research.
"These national facilities like the National Computational Infrastructure based at ANU facilitate cross-institutional collaboration and ensure Australian research keeps pace with the rest of the world."
ANU is host to several national research facilities including the Advanced Instrumentation Technology Centre at Mount Stromlo, the National Computational Infrastructure, and Australian Phenomics Network.
"In last year's MYEFO, ANU received $70 million for the National Computational Infrastructure to upgrade its High Performance Computing (HPC) capability," Professor Schmidt said.
"We are pleased that the Government has further committed to the long-term development and maintenance of that facility with an additional $6.3 million in 2021-22.
"This funding will ensure that our nation remains a world-leader in data analysis and predictive modelling and recognises the important role these facilities play in areas like national security, weather monitoring and data security."
Professor Schmidt congratulated Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel and the expert working group on the delivery of the infrastructure roadmap and thanked Education Minister Simon Birmingham and Innovation Minister Michaelia Cash for their commitment to Australia's research future.
