Agreement between Curtin University and the CSIRO to share resources

29/9/99
Western Australia's status as a national leader in resources and energy research will be boosted by an agreement signed today between Curtin University and the CSIRO.
Commerce and Trade Minister Hendy Cowan congratulated the two organisations on developing a strategic alliance that covers collaboration on research projects, joint appointments and the sharing of equipment, facilities and infrastructure.
Mr Cowan said the significance of such alliances should not be underrated.
"Curtin's Department of Exploration Geophysics and its other petroleum-related research groups and the Minerals and Energy Division of the CSIRO have both already recorded world-class research achievements," he said.
"By combining resources their capacity for future success is significantly increased.
"The benefits for WA are numerous.
"As well as contributing to more effective exploration and extraction technologies for our petroleum industries, this enhanced research effort will foster the development of new exports of services, technologies and products."
Mr Cowan said the State Government had allocated more than $4 million to groups which would be involved in these research activities, through the Centres of Excellence in industry-focussed research and development programs administered by the Department of Commerce and Trade.
These included the Curtin-based Centre of Excellence in Exploration and Production Geophysics and the Centre of Excellence in Petroleum Geology, as well as the joint Curtin/ UWA Western Australian Petroleum Research Centre.
Media contact: Julie Cole 9481 2044