Background

In September 1998, the Federal Government announced its intention to form APAC with a grant of $19.5m over four years.

APAC’s vision is to underpin significant achievements in Australian research, education and technology diffusion by sustaining an advanced computing capability ranked in the top 10 countries.

Its mission is to form a national partnership that will lead the development of an Australia-wide computing and communications systems infrastructure supported by coordinated programs in research, education and technology diffusion.

APAC was established by an agreement between the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DETYA) and The Australian National University (ANU), signed in November 1998 (the ‘DETYA-ANU agreement’). Under the agreement, ANU has the role of Host Institution of APAC and acts in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of APAC.

In April 1999, the APAC Executive Office commenced operation to develop and implement the plans of APAC for its current term (to December 2002).

In June 2000, the APAC partnership was formed by six organisations and another two organisations are expected to join shortly.