About Us

NICTA (National ICT Australia) pursues high-impact research excellence and, through application of this research, create national benefit and wealth for Australia. We aim to be one of the world’s top ICT research centres.

Research Excellence in ICT

We have more than 600 researchers and PhD students, in eight major Research Groups, with many of the world’s leading researchers in their fields:

• Computer Vision
• Control and Signal Processing
• Machine Learning
• Networks
• Optimisation
• Software Systems
• Implant Systems
• Optics & Nanoelectronics

These groups each have a long-term vision for innovative ICT research with the aim of becoming the leading groupsin their field.

Wealth Creation for Australia

We focus on wealth creation opportunities that draw on and exploit areas of research excellence. NICTA has four major Business Teams, with experienced professionals leading projects in:

• Broadband and the Digital Economy
• Health
• Infrastructure, Transport and Logistics
• Security and Environment

Our researchers work on Business Team projects supported by an:

• Engineering, Technology and Development team and
• IP, Legal and other professional support.

We are helping to build a sustainable Australian ICT sector by:

• making fundamental advances in ICT research that enable the development of globally competitive products, processes and services
• building innovative ICT companies, such as Open Kernel Labs that has software in more than one and a half billion mobile phones worldwide, and
• contributing skills and outcomes that are changing the profile of the ICT industry.

Our research addresses the technology challenges facing industry, the community and the nation. We seek to improve the international competitiveness of both academic ICT research and ICT industry innovation by tightly linking the two to achieve greater economic and social impact.

Since foundation we have created six new companies, collaborated on joint projects with a range of end-user and ICT industries, developed a substantial technology and intellectual property portfolio, and supplied an ongoing stream of new talent to the ICT industry through our PhD program.

We have five laboratories around the country, and partner with an increasing number of Australia’s best universities. With more than 600 people, we are the largest organisation in Australia dedicated to ICT research.

History and Funding

We were established in 2002 by the Federal Government as part of the Backing Australia’s Ability initiative, following a competitive bid process.

NICTA is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and the Australian Research Council under the ICT Centre of Excellence Program. NICTA is also funded and supported by the Australian Capital Territory, the New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria Governments, the Australian National University, The University of Melbourne, together with partners including Griffith University, Monash University, Queensland University of Technology , the University of Queensland and the University of Sydney.