Government funding boost for NICTA

Senator Helen Coonan, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, said the funding showed the government's long-term commitment to the scientific research organisation.

The new funding comes on top of the AU$129.5 million provided by the government's Backing Australia's Ability program in 2002. By 2011 then, NICTA will have received AU$380 million in government funding.

The government formed NICTA in 2002 to be a world-class research institute that would research, develop and commercialise new technologies.

"NICTA has become a magnet for world class researchers, including many of Australia's best and brightest researchers working overseas, and has enhanced Australia's research training capacity through a competitive PhD program," said the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, in a joint statement.