NICTA's Dr Chris Nicol wins ATSE Clunies Ross Award

NICTA, Australia’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Research Centre of Excellence, congratulates Dr Chris Nicol, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Embedded Systems, who last night won a prestigious ATSE Clunies Ross Award.

The ATSE Clunies Ross Awards recognise Australia’s pre-eminent scientists and technologists who have bridged the gap between research and the marketplace. They are awarded to people who have persisted with their ideas, often against the odds, to the point that their innovations are making a real difference to the economic, social or environmental benefit of Australia. (ATSE is The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering).

“It is a great honour to receive this award,” said Dr Nicol. “I hope that it serves to highlight the important contribution that use-inspired technological innovation makes to Australia’s digital economy and perhaps inspire more young people to consider careers in the field of Information and Communications Technology.”

Dr Nicol won his award for his work on mobile phone technology that affects daily communication on a global scale. “Chris has pursued his vision of building a world-leading integrated circuit research group and a state-of-the-art chip design team in Australia. His work with smart technology applied to products like cars and airplanes – technology inside products – offers tremendous promise,” said the Chairman of the ATSE Clunies Ross Foundation, Mr Bruce Kean AM FTSE.

“NICTA heartily congratulates Chris on winning this prestigious award. It is well-deserved and a tribute to his vision, determination and enthusiasm for innovation in ICT,” said NICTA Chief Executive Officer Dr David Skellern.

Dr Nicol developed low-power broadband integrated circuit design techniques that have been widely adopted in mobile phones and other systems. In his role as CTO Embedded Systems at NICTA, Dr Nicol has played a pivotal role in establishing Embedded Systems Australia, an industry cluster whose members are collaborating to strengthen embedded systems and related industries in Australia.

Last year, Dr Nicol won the inaugural NSW Scientist of the Year Award for Computer Science. In 2003, he transitioned his Bell Labs team to Agere Systems Australia, attracting millions of dollars of investment to Australia. In 2005, Engineers Australia named Dr Nicol Entrepreneur of the Year and in 2007 they added him to their list of Australia’s 100 Most Influential Engineers.

Document(s): NICTA's Dr Chris Nicol wins ATSE Clunies Ross Award
Contact: Dorothy Kennedy
Phone: +61 2 9376 2098 or +61 488 229 687
Email: dorothy.kennedy@nicta.com.au