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IBM launches global R&D centre in Melbourne

Federal and State Governments help bring IBM centre to Australia

Major tech vendor, IBM, is launching a new global R&D centre in the University of Melbourne. It is set to employ 150 within five years and starts work in 2011.

According to a statement from the Victorian Premier, John Brumby, the new centre is a world-first global research centre that will work on natural disaster, resource management, agriculture, disease control and biotechnology issues.

Brumby was on hand with the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and IBM managing director, Glen Boreham, to launch the centre. Specially hired staff and 38 PhD students from the university will work in the centre.

Prime Minister Gillard said the State and Federal governments had both worked on getting the centre in Australia.

“[The centre] is something that is going to make a huge difference for this state, for this nation and for this institution,” she said. “Our significant boost to university science and research and our investment in the National Broadband Network has helped attract this investment from IBM to this place.”

The Federal Government will contribute $22 million in the centre over five years while the State Government will provide further unspecified assistance.

“Over the last decade I believe we’ve consolidated Victoria’s position as the innovation and R&D capital of Australia,” Premier Brumby said. “Over the last decade our Government has invested well over $4 billion in innovation and technology and I believe it’s paying off.”

Nominations for the 2012 ARN IT Industry Awards open on Tuesday, June 12.

More about: etwork, Federal Government, IBM, IBM Australia, University of Melbourne, University of Melbourne

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