IBM opens R&D lab in Melbourne

Stephen Withers
Friday, 14 October 2011 14:24

IT Industry - Development

IBM today formally opened IBM Research and Development - Australia in Melbourne today. The laboratory is part of IBM's 'smarter planet' initiative, and iTWire spoke to one of the researchers.

Located in Lygon Street, Carlton - on the fringe of the University of Melbourne and RMIT precincts, the laboratory commenced operation earlier this year and will accommodate 150 people within five years. The laboratory will focus on IBM's 'smarter planet' efforts.

IBM wasn't content with the traditional ribbon cutting, or even the button-pushing we've come to expect from hi-tech openings. Instead, each of the dignitaries present - including Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu, Federal Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr, and Victorian Minister for Technology Gordon Rich-Phillips - turned a key that illuminated a segment of the company's logo.

"R&D plays a vital role in IBM's strategy for growth," said John Kelly III, IBM senior vice president and director of IBM Research. "The lab will work with Australia's top scientists and engineers from academia, government and industry to extend IBM's global R&D footprint and increase its impact on our clients and make the world work better. We look forward to working with the Australian technical and scientific community on some of the most pressing problems and greatest opportunities of our time."

Mr Baillieu said "Today's opening and this investment by IBM proves once again that Melbourne is a vital regional hub for global innovation and technology R&D," said Mr Baillieu. "This confirms our place in the world as a first-class destination for investment and revolutionary research and a great location for rewarding collaboration between Government, industry and the research community. We want Victoria to grow well and IBM's new R&D laboratory is part of a new technologically-driven age which will help deliver increased productivity, the key to sustainable ongoing economic prosperity."

Senator Carr noted that NBN rollout was one of the factors that attracted IBM to Australia, and said "The lab sets a new model for public-private collaborative research which is central to Australia's innovation agenda."

What areas of research will the focus of the new facility? See page 2.