Media releases

Federation University Australia today launched a new research centre that will use digital technology to help Australian communities to prosper, manage natural resources and safeguard against cyber-attacks.

Working in fields of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital economy and smart learning technologies, the Centre for Smart Analytics (CSA) will help develop long-term innovative solutions in partnership with industries, government and communities.

It will support breakthrough technology solutions and the Australian Government’s digital economy strategy, help lift global competitiveness, boost industrial productivity and strengthen national security.

The new centre will take a multi-faceted approach to the challenges of the modern world, bringing together researchers from across the university into multidisciplinary teams.

This includes computer scientists, engineers, mathematicians, business strategists, and education specialists, who will conduct high-impact, world-class research in partnership with local industries and globally reputed universities.

The CSA’s research will:

• Assist local city councils in the successful design and implementation of their ‘Smart City’ initiatives.
• Develop low-cost effective solutions to the problems faced by Australian businesses and industries to stay globally competitive and cyber-secured.

• Help safeguard Australia’s critical infrastructure and essential services against external and internal cyber-attacks.
• Manage optimised use of water, energy, and natural resources for Australia’s businesses and agriculture to stay globally competitive and protect environments.
• Explore a next-generation education system to equip students for future challenges and opportunities, including ways to reduce the digital divide in regions.

• Increase job-ready Higher Degree Research graduates who can contribute to the sustainable growth and prosperity of regions.

Co-located across the University’s Victorian campuses, the CSA will be led by internationally recognised computer scientist, Professor Joarder Kamruzzaman and optimisation researcher, Professor and Australian Research Council (ARC) College of Expert member, Professor Adil Baghirov.

Quotes attributable to Federation University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Duncan Bentley

“Federation has a key role to play in partnering with government, industry and communities to help drive economic growth and jobs.”

“Digital technology is a key contributor to the economic and social prosperity of communities and requires a high level of relentless innovation and continual research.”

“This centre will leverage our proven success to build new knowledge and innovative solutions to the grand challenges of smart and resilient communities and industries.”

Quotes attributable to Centre for Smart Analytics Co-Director, Professor Joarder Kamruzzaman

“The centre will support research teams to work with urban and regional communities, industry and government partners to offer feasible and low-cost solutions to their problems.”

“It will have practical application for each one of us - optimising water supplies so that we can bring down your water bill, optimising supply chains to manage the supply of critical goods and infrastructure, protecting your computer systems from cyber hacking by criminals - and many other applications that make life better and more sustainable.”

Quotes attributable to Centre for Smart Analytics Co-Director, Professor Adil Baghirov

“The establishment of this centre will open new opportunities for application of mathematical and machine learning methods.”

“We live in a digital world – artificial intelligence, cyber security, smart learning technologies are embedded in every part of life and through this new research centre we can find ways to better use these technologies for more sustainable communities.”