Queensland Cyber Infrastructure (QCIF) deploys and maintains High Performance Computing (HPC) and advanced ICT infrastructure to support Queensland researchers and industry. Founded in 2000 by six Queensland universities as a collaborative vehicle to build shared research infrastructure, the organisation’s resources and staff are shared across all sites, encompassing Brisbane and regional areas.

QCIF operates state-of-the-art supercomputers, tera-scale data archives and visualisation systems for the use of Queensland’s R&D community.

As a core activity, QCIF has a targeted Industry Outreach Program to engage business and State Agencies, to demonstrate the benefits of adopting advanced computing techniques. A focussed, collaborative research and development program is enabling Queensland agencies to address contemporary infrastructure challenges, such as those in urban transport and water supplies.

QCIF aims to engage and encourage industry, research institutes and regional areas to use advanced computing and visualisation technologies.

Some major Research and Development themes include:

• BioInformatics - large-scale data management for computational biology and biomedicine
• Computational Science - techniques for accelerating understanding in the physical sciences
• Environmental Modelling - integrating multiple resources to enhance environmental management

QCIF funding

QCIF acknowledges the strong support provided by Qld's 'Smart State' initiatives. In May 2000, the Queensland Government committed an initial $10 million over three years to develop a visualisation capability and to further develop supercomputing facilities at the University of Queensland that would be available to all Queensland based universities. 

The State's initial investment in the establishment of QCIF allowed Queensland universities through QCIF to access additional Commonwealth Government funding:

• $2.5 million from the Australian Partnership for Advanced Computing (APAC) expertise program, matched by university funds;
• $5.5m grant to James Cook University to fund the Queensland Regional Education Network (QREN) deployment to Rockhampton and Townsville.

In January 2008, QCIF was successful in securing a third round of funding from the Queensland State Government for the period December 2007 - November 2010 - to develop NCRIS 5.16 PFC research services.