$15m boost to NSW research facilities

The NSW government has promised $15 million to help build modern facilities for locally based scientists and researchers.

Minister for Science and Medical Research, Verity Firth said this investment will keep NSW at the forefront of scientific exploration.

"We are working closely with the Commonwealth government, universities and industry to construct a network of cutting edge R&D infrastructure and expertise, building on the government's previous investments," said Firth.

"This network will benefit Australian companies working in manufacturing, telecommunications, medical devices, computing, pharmaceuticals and electronics."

The investment comes from the NSW government's Science Leveraging Fund, with the $15 million being shared amongst 17 new or expanded research facilities with strong industry links, based at six NSW universities.

The facilities include:

• A research-dedicated cyclotron facility at the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Research Institute, promoting it for research in the areas of disease diagnosis, pharmaceuticals, radiopharmaceuticals and drug-cell interactions.

• The Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Facility at the University of Sydney, allowing the expansion of the Nanostructural Analysis Network Organisation to include a Laser Atom Probe.

• An advanced materials research network for telecommunications, entertainment devices and advanced coatings, which will be located at Sydney's Australian Technology Park and will include Macquarie, Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong universities.

• The NSW node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility at the University of NSW, helping to create materials and devices in electronics, information technology, medical devices and 'next gen' computers.

• The Universities of NSW and Southern Cross will host genomics facilities, providing the core of the Genomics NSW Network for the study of plant and human genetics.

• The Australian Proteome Analysis Facility, headquartered at Macquarie, providing expanded proteomics research capacity for human health, agricultural, food and environmental applications.

• The Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Facility and Systems Biology Centre at the University of NSW, to analyse the functions of proteins and cellular chemistry in the processes of life and disease.

• A biofuels research pipeline for the production of alternative vehicle fuel from plant and crop waste at the universities of NSW, Sydney and Macquarie.

• Protein production facilities at the University of NSW, helping researchers invent future therapies for diseases.

"I congratulated both NSW universities and industry for their contributions to the development of these important research facilities and the partnerships that will directly lead to the employment and training of 500 highly skilled researchers and students," said Firth.