NICTA research head wins award for engineering, mathematics & computer sciences

Peter Dinham
Sunday, 13 September 2009 10:34

IT Industry - Market

The head of NICTA’s computer operating systems research group, Professor Gernot Heiser, is the winner of the award for New South Wales Scientist of the Year for engineering, mathematics and computer sciences.

The NSW scientists of the year awards, an initiative of Industry and Investment NSW, formerly the department of State and regional development, were established last year to recognise New South Wales’ leading researchers who are doing cutting edge work of economic, health, environmental or technological benefit to the state.

Acting NICTA CEO, Dr Phil Robertson, said Professor Heiser was a “world-class research talent” and he was delighted “he has been recognised by the NSW Government for his contribution to the knowledge economy of his home state. His entrepreneurial approach in creating a new company shows that competitive advantage can be gained through advanced research and development.”

Dr Robinson said Professor Heiser headed one of the world’s leading computer operating systems research groups at NICTA, and was also John Lyons Professor at the University of New South Wales’ School of Computer Science and Engineering and Chief Technology Officer of NICTA spin-out company Open Kernel Labs.

“His entrepreneurial approach in creating a new company shows that competitive advantage can be gained through advanced research and development.”

Professor Heiser was nominated for the award by successfully fulfilling his “unique vision for embedded systems in Australia and the world. He pioneered the first-ever operating system that is proven to be functionally correct, and then took his research to market, forming the globally successful Open Kernel Labs venture.”

The NSW Minister for Science and Medical Research Jodi McKay congratulated all category winners and overall winner, Professor Stephen Simpson, from the University of Sydney, who was awarded the prestigious $60,000 NSW Scientist of the Year Award for his leading work in biological studies.