NICTA and Fraunhofer IESE world-leading researchers combine forces

NICTA, Australia’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Research Centre of Excellence has signed a five-year agreement with the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering (IESE) to establish the Fraunhofer Project Group on Transport and Logistics at NICTA’s Sydney laboratory. 

The agreement creates an immediate framework for joint research work to solve hard problems in transport and logistics. The two organisations are committing over $AUD11 million to bring together their complementary skills and world-leading expertise in these areas. 

“The Fraunhofer Project Group at NICTA joins outstanding talent from our two organisations.  The possibilities that this will create for NICTA and Australia are truly exciting.  Australia must be part of the global innovation system to build competitive advantage in technology and the broader economy, and this is a major step in that direction," NICTA Chief Executive Officer Dr David Skellern said.

“In addition to NICTA’s contribution to the Fraunhofer Project Group, Australia’s New South Wales Government is providing funds – on top of their annual $5 million contribution – to support establishing industrial projects,” Dr Skellern said.

“The Fraunhofer IESE is interested in advancing the level of scientific and engineering know-how by working with leading scientists around the world.  Australia has world-class capabilities and we will work together to deliver greater scientific results and generate break-through technologies for market,” Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering, Executive Director Professor Dieter Rombach said.

NICTA Senior Researcher Dr Mark Staples will head up the Fraunhofer Project Group at NICTA. Dr Staples has both research expertise and business experience working in software engineering, software architecture and business technology.  He is the leader of NICTA’s Software Infrastructure business area, and a Conjoint Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales with the School of Computer Science and Engineering. 

“The agreement is a formal basis for research collaboration and brings together an impressive suite of international engineering, science and business expertise to tackle real world problems.  We will draw especially on capabilities in embedded systems, software engineering and optimisation methods,” Dr Staples said.

The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft is the largest organisation for applied research in Europe with a central role in the global ICT innovation system.  Establishing a Project Group in Australia builds on their strong international reach throughout Europe, the United States and Asia.

About NICTA

National ICT Australia Ltd (NICTA), Australia’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Research Centre of Excellence, is developing technologies which will meet the current and future needs of the community in fields which will lead to large economic, social and environmental benefits for Australia. NICTA has five laboratories around the country. Since NICTA was founded in 2002, it has created four new companies, developed a substantial technology portfolio of patent applications and continues to supply new talent to the ICT industry through the NICTA-enhanced PhD program.

NICTA is funded by the Australian Government as represented by the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and the Australian Research Council through the ICT Centre of Excellence program. In addition to federal funding NICTA is also funded and supported by the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland and Victorian Governments, The Australian National University, Griffith University, University of Melbourne, University of New South Wales, University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology and The University of Sydney.

About Fraunhofer IESE

Fraunhofer-Institute for Experimental Software Engineering is one of the worldwide leading research institutes in the area of software and systems development. A major portion of the products offered by our collaboration partners is defined by software. These products range from automotive and transportation systems to information systems and medical devices to software systems for the public sector.

Our solutions allow flexible scaling. This makes us a competent technology partner for organizations of any size – from small companies to major corporations.
Under the leadership of Prof. Dieter Rombach and Prof. Peter Liggesmeyer, the past decade has seen us making major contributions to strengthening the emerging IT location Kaiserslautern.
In the Fraunhofer Information and Communication Technology Group, we are cooperating with other Fraunhofer institutes on developing trend-setting key technologies for the future. Fraunhofer IESE is one of 59 institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Together we have a major impact on shaping applied research in Europe and contribute to Germany’s competitiveness in international markets.

For further information:

Kelly Mills

Communications Specialist, NICTA

Ph: 02 9376 2059 or 0414 674 220

Dorothy Kennedy

Communications Specialist, NICTA

Ph: 02 9376 2098 or 0488 229 687