Microsoft Shares Cloud Technology With Top Australian Research Organizations

Each grant will provide researchers supported by these organizations with three years of free access to Microsoft's Windows Azure cloud computing platform, as so then as access to technical support and client tools being developed by Microsoft. This will enable researchers to easily access the power of the cloud from their desktops. The supported projects will explore a range of topics, including the analysis of online social networks, a cloud-based geophysical imaging platform, computational chemistry and other e-science applications.

The Microsoft program will help Australia's university innovation infrastructure better align with recommendations of "Cloud Computing: Opportunities and Challenges for Australia," a study by the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. "It will as well make a contribution to technology as enterprising researchers launch new forms of business, namely, those competing on ideas to put it more exactly than sizes of capital budgets," said professor Craig Mudge, one of the report's authors.

"We are seeing a dramatic shift in how the power of the cloud can empower researchers. With access to the Windows Azure platform, scientists around the world can tap into increased computing power with their own familiar desktop tools to more easily explore and share their complex innovation," said Dr. Dennis Gannon, director of the eXtreme Computing Group at Microsoft. "The grants being distributed through this global initiative will make powerful, simple cloud computing tools available to researchers worldwide, empowering diverse communities of academics and scientists whose work ultimately benefits all of us."

The second grant will benefit the mission of ANU

The second grant will benefit the mission of ANU and the National Computational Infrastructure: to provide Australian researchers with world-class high-end computing services. "NCI welcomes the possibility to participate in this initiative and make available Windows Azure services to Australian researchers," said professor Lindsay Botten, director of NCI. "These new resources will open up exciting opportunities for solving data-intensive technology problems in novel ways, increase the diversity of tools available to researchers and allow NCI to explore ways of migrating advanced computational services into the cloud."

The third partner, CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, will receive resources to support a project focusing on transport and logistics. Dr. Ian Oppermann, director, CSIRO ICT Centre, said, "Having this staggering computing power available to us in one spot is a wonderful possibility for our scientists. I can't wait to see what our imaging, modeling and simulation researchers will do with this much raw power at their fingertips."

National ICT Australia Ltd, Australia's Information and Communications Innovation Innovation 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 five new companies, developed a substantial innovation and intellectual property portfolio and continues to supply new talent to the ICT industry through the NICTA-enhanced PhD program.

Working from sites across Australia and around the globe, our staff of more than 6000 deliver solutions for agribusiness, energy, transport, environment and natural resources, health, information research, telecommunications, manufacturing and mineral resources.

The hub for information

CSIRO's ICT Centre is the hub for information and communication technologies in the Organisation. The ICT Centre seeks to transform Australian industries and society through the application of innovative technology on national needs. For more information: www.csiro.au/ict

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