CSIRO Digital Productivity and NICTA to merge

Settling months of speculation, the federal government has announced that the CSIRO’s Digital Productivity flagship and NICTA will merge, forming one of the largest digital innovation teams in the world.

Researchers from the two organisations will come together to form a new CSIRO entity called Data61, led by Australian technology entrepreneur Adrian Turner.

“CSIRO and NICTA are two world-class research organisations with some of the world’s leading scientists,” Minister for Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane said in statement.

“Both have an impressive track record in digital innovation and have demonstrated their ability to take home-grown technologies to market.

“Together they will be a force to be reckoned with, creating an internationally recognised digital research powerhouse that will benefit Australian industry as it reaches into new global markets and seizes new opportunities for jobs and growth.

“I’d like to thank the NICTA members and the board for embracing this opportunity to supercharge Australia’s digital research.”

“Having a single national organisation will enable Data61 to produce focused research that will deliver strong economic returns and ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of digital innovation,” said Minister for Communications Malcolm Turnbull.

“The new combined entity will continue to train Australia’s future digital technology leaders through the enhanced PhD program, with more than 300 technology PhDs enrolled at partner universities.”

Turner said he was joining CSIRO at an exciting time. His vision for Data61 is to harness the start-up culture of NICTA and multidisciplinary strength of CSIRO to deliver maximum benefit to Australia.

“So much of our understanding and interaction with the world is underpinned by digital technology and data.

“It is a fast moving and big growth area for Australia and Australian industry, and Data61 will be well positioned to play a leading role in defining the new economic structures and opportunities that are emerging globally.”

For the past 18 years, Turner has been based in Silicon Valley, firstly working for global tech giant Phillips then building his own companies from the ground up.

Turner was formerly managing director and co-founder of the Borondi Group, a company that applies emerging technologies in traditionally conservative industries such as agriculture, mining and transportation.

Prior to that, he co-founded smartphone and Internet of Things security company Mocana Corporation, where he raised more than $40 million from institutional and corporate investors.

He also authored the book BlueSky Mining — Building Australia’s Next Billion Dollar Industries and was chair of the board of directors for Advance, Australia’s expatriate network.