IBM R&D lab to be established

The Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the Premier of Victoria John Brumby have announced IBM will establish what it claims will be a world-first global research and development laboratory at the University of Melbourne.

The new centre, which will be created with the support of the state and federal governments, will be the first IBM global research and development laboratory.

The Prime Minister said the IBM centre will employ 150 highly skilled staff and PhD students to help solve current and future global challenges.

Premier John Brumby said the project further cements Victoria’s reputation as the information and communications technology capital of Australia following the National Broadband Network’s decision to build its hub in Melbourne and the release of the government’s $110 million ICT strategy yesterday.

“Victoria is the perfect place to base this globally important ICT research and development lab and create 150 new jobs,” Brumby said.

“Just like our agricultural, mining, manufacturing and services phases, Victoria’s ICT phase will transform our economy and create thousands of new jobs for Victorian families.

Glen Boreham, Managing Director for IBM Australia and New Zealand, said the company was working with the Australian and Victorian Governments to expand its R&D capability in Australia.

"Aligned with its drive to build a Smarter Planet, IBM has been drawn to Australia by the availability of world-class talent, the innovation environment, continent-scale opportunities and Australia's robust economy," Boreham said.

The Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Kim Carr, said the expansion of IBM’s facilities in Australia was an example of a good partnership.

“Co-investment with companies such as IBM helps provide a model of cooperation between universities and private industry, and will build high-skill, high-wage jobs for Australians in technologically cutting-edge industries,” Senator Carr said.

“It will also provide real-world experience for our researchers and PhD students in a world-class facility.”

University of Melbourne’s Deputy Vice Chancellor of research Professor Peter Rathjen said that the facility will bring together leading research and development initiatives with world-class ICT infrastructure.

“The establishment of the global R&D lab will bring together some of the best minds in the country and arguably the world,” Professor Rathjen said.

The new IBM facility is expected to start operating in the first quarter of 2011 and grow to about 150 researchers within the next five years.