Broadband Institute

I just attended the launch of the Institute for a Broadband-Enabled Society (IBES) founded by Professor Rod Tucker here at the University of Melbourne. The launch was conducted by Victorian Premier John Brumby (who kicked in on behalf of the State initial funding of $2m plus an extra $5m for the development of applications in the IBES’s lab) and Broadband Minister Stephen Conroy. I’m on the Executive Committee of the Institute. The Institute is very multidisciplinary and aims to develop broadband applications to complement the National Broadband Network. It is well-positioned in an area that was identified by the Cutler Review last year as one that should be a priority for the government in innovation. It will be interesting to see what develops.