THE opening last week of the Australian Resources Research Centre at Technology Park was more than the culmination of 10 years’ work built on initiative and negotiation between the CSIRO, Curtin University and three successive WA Governments.
The $37 million facility has materialised with a $35 million contribution from the State Government, the largest single investment of public funds into technology.
High hopes are riding on the investment, which is described and fully supported by the present Government as a “significant decision of the Court Government”.
Premier Geoff Gallop said ARCC would produce $240 million in export earnings per year, in addition to $13 million of new income per year, which would flow directly from the centre. Some of the expected income from ARCC will come from salaries.
One hundred and twenty new senior research positions have been created in conjunction with the centre, which will accommodate 200 CSIRO and Curtin University researchers, plus support staff.
This critical mass, representing strategic alliances and collaboration between scientists, academia and industry, is expected to attract to WA a larger share of research and development funding from Federal Government coffers.
The Government’s view is that with this support ARRC can advance local research and innovation into new technologies with worldwide markets and underscore WA’s position in the global economy.
The Premier said the Government had allocated $50 million over four years to foster a culture of innovation and creativity and to achieve maximum commercialisation.
