CRCSI-2 Bid Successful!

Author: John Forne
Date: 4 September 2009

The Australia / New Zealand spatial sector will gain access to new data, technologies and services through the AU$32.2 million funding of a major research program in satellite positioning and remote sensing technologies, announced by the Australian Government in August. The funding goes to the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRCSI-2) and involves over 100 organisations, from government and the private sector, coming together with universities in an eight-year joint venture (2009 - 2017).

With a total budget of AU$180 million (made up of government funding and in-kind support), Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) recognised the oppportunity for the CRCSI-2 to deliver benefits to New Zealand and joined the re-bid. The successful re-bid builds on encouraging results produced by the CRCSI in the last six years, including access to intellectual property, networking for information access and strategic alliances, formation of new markets and access to international markets, and upskilling opportunities.

CRCSI-2 provides an opportunity to develop the infrastructure needed to support the development and re-use of spatial information. LINZ has agreed to dedicate a role to coordinate New Zealand's participation in CRCSI-2 activities. Examples of areas where agencies, such as government, academia, and Crown Research Institutes, could benefit include:

• natural resources management
• positioning
• remote sensing and feature extraction
• climate change
• health
• urban planning and development
• economic development.

If you are interested in finding out more about this opportunity or are interested in getting involved please contact us.