CSIRO today opened
a new AU$100 million research facility focused on solving some of
Australia’s biggest challenges across agriculture, the environment and the
digital world.
The Synergy Building features 15,000 square metres of modern
lab and office accommodation housing 500 scientists focused on areas including
future crops, natural resources, climate science and data or digital solutions.
The building, which took two years to complete, will form
the centrepiece of the Black Mountain Science and Innovation Park, and take the
ACT one step closer to delivering the vision for a world-leading
National Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Precinct.
State-of-the-art labs will be used to conduct cutting edge
research in areas including developing crops to feed a growing world,
next-generation cotton, water and climate management and data and smart-system
solutions.
Researchers from CSIRO Business Units Data61, Agriculture
and Food, Land and Water, Minerals, Energy, and Oceans and Atmosphere will be
located within the facility.
Acting Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science,
Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash said food security, environmental sustainability
and data present significant challenges and opportunities for Australia, now
and into the future.
"Synergy has been created to tackle these challenges by
bringing together great minds within a world-leading scientific facility,"
Senator Cash said.
"Together, they will create the solutions we need for a
bright and prosperous future for these industries and for our nation."
CSIRO Chief Executive Larry Marshall said the Synergy
Building was part of a AU$195 million property investment plan that was
approved in 2013 by the Federal Government and includes the consolidation and
broader redevelopment of CSIRO’s Black Mountain site.
"Collaboration is at the heart of CSIRO’s
2020 strategy and Synergy is the physical embodiment of that vision,"
Dr. Marshall said.
"Synergy is the future of innovation, where all
branches of science come together to deliver breakthrough solutions. Synergy of
the incredible minds working within this building will create a powerhouse for
collaborative research for the benefit of all Australians."