The role of the Education Investment Fund (EIF) is to build a modern, productive, internationally competitive economy by supporting world-leading, strategically focused infrastructure investment. It has invested more than $1.6 billion into research infrastructure projects since 2008. The recent funding of a $17.5 million for the Centre at University of Melbourne under round 2 of the EIF will bring together scientists and researchers who are leaders in their fields including a better understanding of the human brain and diseases of the central nervous system is closer thanks to the new Centre for Neural Engineering at the University of Melbourne. The Centre will put Australia in the box seat for developing new brain-machine interfaces that can do anything from helping quadriplegics use computer systems to enhancing computer games and entertainment.
It is designed to encourage our finest researchers to delve into advanced scientific modeling, complex data processing, and the development of autonomous systems There is great potential for the work of this centre to inspire and improve the lives of all Australians – indeed, its reach will be truly global.
The Centre’s director Professor Stan Skafidas has a brilliant international reputation for his work in the development of microelectronics, wireless communication and other communication systems.