A Centre of Expertise in Systems Integration (CoESI) will be established at The University of South Australia, opening 1 July 2006.

The Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and the University of South Australia have signed a three year agreement to establish the centre and boost Defence’s systems integration capability.

It is a long-term strategic engagement, which builds capability in systems integration skills in the Australian Defence and industry sectors.

The centre will bring together DSTO’s modeling and simulation infrastructure, extensive domain expertise and the University’s strong research profile in systems engineering to create an important national capability.

DSTO’s Deputy Chief Defence Scientist Dr Nanda Nandagopal said the move would ensure that the lack of systems integration skills in industry and government does not compromise major and complex defence acquisition projects such as the Air Warfare Destroyer.

‘DSTO is tackling this issue head-on by drawing on expertise within DSTO including the deployment of its system integration laboratories, industry and the universities to build a national capability in the integration of complex systems,’ Dr Nandagopal said.

Left to right sitting: University of South Australia Chancellor David Klingberg;  University of South Australia’s Pro-Vice Chancellor, Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment, Professor Robin King; Deputy Chief Defence Scientist (Systems), Dr (D.) Nanda Nandagopal; Deputy Chief Defence Scientist (Information), Mr Neil Bryans.

Left to right Standing: Chief of DSTO's Electronic Warfare and Radar Division, Dr Len Sciacca and Chief Executive, Centre of Excellence in Defence and Industry Systems Capability and DSTO Professor of Systems Engineering, Professor Stephen Cook.